Molecular mechanisms of ethyl alcohol utilization
Since ethanol is a toxic compound, its excess poses a serious danger to the body. If the concentration of alcohol in a person's blood exceeds normal values by about an order of magnitude, there is a high probability of acute poisoning, and if by two, a fatal outcome is inevitable. In this regard, there are molecular systems in the body that allow the disposal of excess ethyl alcohol.
This system converts ethanol into acetic acid, which in appropriate concentrations is absolutely harmless. However, the immediate precursor of this compound is the highly toxic acetic aldehyde. Even very small concentrations of it can cause general weakness, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, dry mouth, headaches, nausea and many other unpleasant effects. Under normal conditions (in the absence of excess ethanol), the amount of acetic aldehyde in the body is negligible. But after taking a significant dose of alcohol, it gradually grows and after a while it can have a very negative impact on life. Thus, the high content of ethyl alcohol initially causes a state of euphoria in a person (this is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of GABA receptors), but then stimulates the synthesis of acetic aldehyde, which eventually leads to the classic symptoms of a hangover. The sensations are especially unpleasant the next morning, when the excess of ethyl alcohol is already. used up, and the concentration of acetic aldehyde is still high.
Enzymes directly involved in ethanol utilization (alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) are found in a wide range of tissues and organs, but the bulk is concentrated in liver cells. The fact is that the liver performs a barrier function — it neutralizes various kinds of toxic substances. In particular, it also disposes of excess ethanol. Accordingly, the highest concentrations of acetic aldehyde are observed in a drinking person in the liver, which leads to severe lesions of this organ.
Despite the ability of ethanol to cause euphoria, different people have different attitudes to alcoholic beverages. This is due to the degree of activity of the mentioned enzymes. In the most common case, both have a fairly high level of activity, causing a standard reaction to excess alcohol: first euphoria, and after a while — a hangover. However, there are also less standard reactions.
If the activity of both enzymes is very high, ethanol is converted into acetic acid so quickly that a person almost does not experience alcoholic intoxication even from very significant doses of alcohol. Such people often flaunt their
abilities, further increase the dose and eventually become heavily dependent on alcohol.
A completely different picture arises if the activity of the first enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) is significantly higher than that of the second (aldehyde dehydrogenase). Ethanol is effectively converted into acetic aldehyde, but it does not have time to be processed into acetic acid and gradually accumulates in the body in increasing quantities. As a result, even before he has time to feel euphoria, a person finds himself in a state close to a hangover. Such people, as a rule, have an aversion to alcohol or treat it with great caution.
Finally, another option is possible. If alcohol dehydrogenase is not active enough, the process of ethanol utilization is practically not going on. Alcohol remains in the body much longer and thereby inactivates GABA receptors for a long time. In this case, even small amounts of alcohol cause a pronounced alcoholic intoxication in a person, after which there are usually no symptoms of a hangover. A person gets drunk very quickly and willingly gets drunk. Want quick and secure payments for online casinos? Get acquainted with PayID by heading over to https://payid-online-pokies.com .