Effects of short-term drinking Maotai-flavor liquor on the ethanol metabolism in rats

Objective To investigate the influence on alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase of 3 different Maotai- flavor liquors in rats and thus to determine the correlation between the liquor drinking and health. Methods Seventy- five male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups,in which 3 different intakes( 10,5 and 2. 5 mL / kg) of Maotai- flavor liquors,53% alcohol( 5 mL / kg) and replaced saline salvages were given respectively for 7 days. Serum alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were assessed by headspace gas- chromatographic analysis,while superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase,malondialdehyde,alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in liver homogenate were also determined. Real time PCR,immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to determine expression levels of alcohol dehydrogenase- 1 and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase- 2 in liver. Results In the Maotai- flavor liquor- fed rats,alcohol and acetaldehyde in serum were declined significantly( P 0. 01),while superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in liver homogenate were elevated significantly( P 0. 01); meanwhile,the malondialdehyde was reduced significantly( P 0. 01),as acetaldehyde dehydrogenase- 2 in liver was increased significantly( P 0. 01); when compared with alcohol- fed rats. On the anther hand,there was no significant difference between Maotai- flavor liquor- fed rats and alcohol- fed rats in regarding to both alcohol dehydrogenase in liver homogenate or alcohol dehydrogenase- 1 in liver. Conclusion The Maotai- flavor liquor can obviously increase the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase,so as to reduce the accumulation of acetaldehyde and alleviate the toxicity of acetaldehyde.