Objective: To investigate the role of hepatic and gastric alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) in different pathologic stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
Methods: Thirty-nine rats were divided into either model or control group at random. The ALD model was established by infusing alcohol into the stomach. The activity varieties of hepatic and gastric ADH were observed by optical microscopy after hepatic and gastric tissues had been stained by enzyme histo-cytochemistry assay and the activity alterations were also determined with a LUZEX-F analysis instrument as a semi-quantitative method.
Results: The activity of hepatic ADH gradually increased, but gastric ADH gradually decreased in ALD. There was a significant difference between model group and control one (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The activity alterations of the hepatic and gastric ADH may play an important role in the onset and development of ALD.