Age-related metabolic effects of acetaldehyde on rats with reference to detoxification enzymes and sulfhydryl groups

Induced-acetaldehyde toxic effects on gluatathione [GSH] metabolism and sulfhydryl (SH) groups in liver and in brain of female albino rats with reference to age was studied. The total -SH groups were decreased whereas the specific activities of glutathione-S-transferase [GST] and glutathione peroxidase [GPo] were increased in acetaldehyde treated rats. However, the specific activity levels of glutathione reductase [GR] and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase [gamma-GCS] were decreased. In general, acetaldehyde induced changes in the specific activities of the enzymes that increase with increasing age.