A DETOXICATION ROUTE FOR ACETALDEHYDE - METABOLISM OF DIACETYL, ACETOIN, AND 2,3-BUTANEDIOL IN LIVER HOMOGENATE AND PERFUSED LIVER OF RATS

The metabolism of diacetyl (2,3-butanedione), acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-but anone),and 2,3-butanediol, which are metabolites of acetaldehyde was q uantitatively investigated using rat liver homogenate, liver perfusion , and in vivo experiments. Diacetyl and acetoin were reduced to 2,3-bu tanediol in these experiments, but acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were sca rcely oxidized to diacetyl, indicating that the reduction reaction to 2,3-butanediol from diacetyl occurs actively in rat liver. The formati on of acetoin from diacetyl required either NADH or NADPH as a reducta nt, while the reduction of acetoin to 2,3-butanediol required NADH. Ac etoin and 2,3-butanediol were more readily accumulated than diacetyl i n brain tissue.