[Alcohol dehydrogenase in the blood and liver of rats with different alcoholic motivation]

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was determined by a highly sensitive method. The enzyme activity in the blood serum was similar in alcohol and water preferring rats, while ADH activity in the liver of alcohol preferring rats was higher than in water preferring rats. In rats, chronically intoxicated with ethanol, ADH activity in the liver decreased, while in the serum it was twice higher than the normal level. It is suggested that high level of blood ADH is not connected with the rate of enzyme synthesis in the liver.