Distribution of adenosine deaminase in some rat tissues. Inhibition by ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide

The level of adenosine deaminase in various rat tissues has been tested. The enzyme activity of cytosolic fractions decreased in the following order: lung greater than spleen greater than small intestine greater than stomach greater than kidney greater than heart greater than liver greater than skeletal muscle greater than forebrain greater than cerebellum. The enzyme had identical patterns from tissue to tissue with respect to Km, V, and Ki values for ethanol and for dimethyl sulfoxide, with respect to electrophoretic behaviour and to inhibition by antibodies anti-rat brain adenosine deaminase.