Impaired acetaldehyde metabolism in partially hepatectomized rats.

Two-thirds hepatectomy in rats resulted in elevated blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels as compared to those of sham operated and CCl4-induced toxic injured rats. The acetaldehyde/ethanol ratio increased also. Although the liver mass regenerated within 3 days, ethanol metabolism remained disturbed. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was significantly diminished only following partial hepatectomy. The results suggest that abnormal ethanol and especially acetaldehyde metabolism in partially hepatectomized rats is not due simply to reduced liver tissue but to a diminished aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in the remaining tissue.