DETECTION OF ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION BY ELISA ASSAY MEASUREMENT OF ACETALDEHYDE ADDUCTS IN MURINE HAIR

Acetaldehyde (AA), a principal metabolite of ethanol, reacts with prot eins to form protein-AA adducts in vivo and in vitro. We studied three different protein-AA adducts produced in vitro, as well as hair kerat in-AA adducts from ethanol-fed and/or cocaine-injected mice. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that detected the st able protein-AA adducts in protein isolated from hair. Cocaine injecti on had little effect on hair AA adduct formation. The indirect ELISA a ssay showed significantly increased levels of keratin-AA adducts-in ha ir from mice fed ethanol for 8 weeks. Hair collection was noninvasive and the AA-protein adducts were stable. Therefore, this indirect ELISA assay could be further developed as a biochemical parameter for alcoh olism in the clinical setting. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.