ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL AND MICROSOMAL CYTOCHROMES IN HUMAN LIVER BIOPSY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the analysis of mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in human liver biopsy. It discusses a new method for measuring simultaneously the contents of the cytochromes aa3, P-450 and b5 in very small sample obtained by needle biopsy. The result obtained shows no significant change of cytochrome aa3 content in drinkers' livers, while a significant increase in the liver cytochrome P-450 content was observed with concomitant change of the ratio of P-450/b5 contents by chronic alcohol intake. Studies on mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in human livers have been carried out in relation to ethanol metabolism. To determine the cytochrome content in small biopsy samples, a micromethod was developed, in which different CO reassociation behavior among cytochromes aa3, P-450, and hemoglobin after photolysis of the CO-treated sample at low temperature was utilized.