[Arginase activity in various tissues of rats in alcohol intoxication]

Effects of acute and chronic alcohol intoxication on activities of arginase, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AcDH) were studied in rat liver, brain and kidney tissues. Alcohol intoxication altered both ureotelic (liver) and non-ureothelic (brain, kidney) arginase activity. The arginase activity in all the tissues studied was increased in chronic alcohol intoxication. Elevation in the arginase activity in liver tissue indicates that the urea cycle is activated as well as that hyperproduction of glutamic acid in brain may occur. Specific inhibitory effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde might be responsible for alterations of the arginase activity in all the tissues studied in acute alcohol intoxication. In vitro acetaldehyde at 5 X 10(-6) M concentration inhibited the arginase activity in partially purified preparations of brain and kidney tissues by 40-50% and of liver tissue--by 10-15%; 10% ethanol inhibited the liver enzyme by 90% and affected only slightly the activity of brain arginase.