The role of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in alcoholism.

The effects of alcohol on the membrane-bound enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, is discussed. Both in vitro and in vivo studies are presented. The chronic administration of alcohol produces an increase of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in several regions of rat brain whether the alcohol is administered via the inhalational route or by a liquid diet. Rat pups born to mothers which received alcohol throughout gestation are compared to human FAS. In the rat model of FAS the in utero administration of alcohol causes an increase in brain gamma-GTP activity. The use of gamma-GTP as a diagnostic tool in problem drinkers is discussed. A significant positive correlation was found between the amount of alcohol consumed by an individual and serum gamma-GTP activity. Serum from 1 day old pups born to alcoholic mothers and their pair-fed controls were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and stained for gamma-GTP activity. The zymographs of neonatal rats exposed to alcohol in utero were shown to differ from the zymographs of control neonatal rats.