[Effect of cysteine on protein metabolism in the liver of rats with ethanol-induced liver damage].

Rats intoxicated with ethanol at the dose of 0.6 g/100 g of the body weight during 4 weeks were fed on standard diet and the one containing 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5% L-cysteine. Intoxication of rats fed standard food causes an increase in the activity of cathepsin D and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase in the liver and an increase in the activity of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase in the blood serum. Consuming by rats food containing small and medium quantity of cysteine causes normalization of the activity of all enzymes, whereas consuming food containing large quantity of cysteine does not give such effect.