[Changes in hepatic tryptophan pyrrolase activity and plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroid levels in rats after single and protracted alcohol administration and withdrawal].

Single administration of ethanol in doses of 3 and 5 g/kg per os caused a 4--5fold increase in plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroids after one hour and an approximately 2 fold increase in liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity after 5 hours. Adrenalectomy abolished the effect of ethanol. Prolonged alcoholization of rats with 2--10% solutions of ethanol ad libitum resulted in the decreased tryptophan pyrrolase activity 2 months after the experiment was initiated. This effect seems likely to be accounted for by the inhibition of the synthesis of this enzyme and its activation by steroid hormones. Withdrawal of ethanol after 2-month alcoholization was associated with an appreciable potentiation of tryptophan pyrrolase activity.