The effects of ethanol on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity from human erythrocytes in vitro and rat erythrocytes in vivo.

AIMS The effects of ethanol on erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity were investigated under in vitro and in vivo conditions. METHODS For in vitro studies, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified from human erythrocyte and rats were used for in vivo studies. Enzyme activity was determined spectrophotometrically by the Beutler method. RESULTS The in vitro study showed that the I(50) value was 17 mM for ethanol. In the case of the in vivo study, a 2 ml/kg dose of ethanol significantly inhibited the G6PD activity. The inhibition rate after ethanol administration was 59%, 40% and 6% at 1, 3 and 6 h after, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that ethanol has a significant inhibitory effect on the G6PD activity both in vivo and in vitro.