The role of alcohol dehydrogenase in the metabolism of chloral hydrate.

Evidence is offered that the principal mediator of the reduction of chloral hydrate to trichloroethanol in the body is alcohol dehydrogenase. The enzyme responsible for the reduction of chloral hydrate is shown to be DPNH-dependent, and, like that involved in the reduction of acetaldehyde, is found in the soluble portion of the cell, and is affected in the same way by purification procedures and by certain inhibitors of enzymic activity.