Characterization of Endogenous Ethanol in the Mammal

Abstract

Ethanol has been isolated from the tissues of several animal species in amounts ranging from 23 to 145 μmole/100 gm of tissue. Intestinal bacterial flora appear to be excluded as a source of this ethanol. Radioactivity from pyruvate-2-C 14 appeared in ethanol after incubation with liver slices; this finding indicates an endogenous synthesis.