Effect of acute alcohol administration on erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in man

The acute oral administration of ethanol to normal subjects resulted in an increase in erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. Incubation of blood with ethanol at 37 degrees C for 2 hr also increased the enzyme activity. By contrast, addition of ethanol directly to the enzyme after its partial purification had no effect on the enzyme activity. The increase in erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase activity following acute ethanol administration is directly opposite to the effect of chronic ethanol consumption in decreasing the enzyme activity in alcoholics. The mechanism for this effect is unknown but may be related to alterations in the erythrocyte membrane and its interaction with the enzyme.