[Aldehyde metabolizing enzymes in the central nervous system and liver--electrophoresis studies of alcoholism]

The enzyme systems aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) and S-formylglutation dehydrogenase (FGH/ESD) were investigated in specimen of cadaveric liver and brain by semiquantitative adjusted starch gel electrophoresis. Two groups of autopsy cases were compaired 1. alcoholics with fatty liver and 2. nonalcoholics. In ALDH and FDH there were no differences between the examined groups. In about 48% of specimens of alcoholics were in a more or less degree alterations in phenotypes of ESD detectable in vitro experiments showed that ESD spots were modified and became less intensive in the presence of formaldehyde (0.5-2.5 mg/g). These alterations were more intensiv in the phenotyp ESD 1 then in the phenotyp ESD 2-1.