Studies on the mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in alcoholics liver

Abstract

The mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in human livers were studied in relation to the ethanol metabolism. For this purpose, a micromethod for determining the cytochromes content in small biopsy sample was developed. The results with 62 cases with a variety of liver diseases were as follows; 1) The liver cytochrome a₃ content did not significantly change in the drinkers with chronic hepatitis (CH) as compared to that of the non-drinkers, while it slightly decreased in the case of liver cirrhosis (LC), 2) The cytochrome P-450 content significantly increased in the drinkers with CH(P<0.05), while no change was observed in the drinkers with LC, 3) the P-450/b₅ ratio of non-drinkers' livers was found to be in linear correlation, while this ratio was variable in the drinkers. The results were discussed in view of the ethanol metabolism in the livers.