Ethanol involvement in putrescine and histamine oxidation by guinea pig liver

The in vitro influence of ethanol and acetaldehyde on diamine oxidase catalyzed reaction was measured with guinea pig liver and intestine. Acetaldehyde, having no influence on diamine oxidase activity, diminished the formation of gamma-aminobutyric acid or imidazole-4-acetic acid when putrescine or histamine were used, respectively, as enzyme substrate. During ethanol ingestion by guinea pig the enhancement of hepatic diamine oxidase activity was observed after 10 days of treatment with subsequent decrease to the control value on the 18th day. The metabolic products of putrescine in diamine oxidase catalyzed reaction by livers of alcohol animals show similar increase and the same time course as enzymic activity. The per cent distribution of particular products in diamine oxidase reaction was not affected by ethanol administration.