You do not consume alcoholic beverages, but your friend does, and he consumes these drinks regularly and in large amounts. If we could examine your liver cells and compare with your friend, would we see a difference in smooth ER and peroxisomes?
Yes, there will be a difference when both are compared. For one, there will be a noticeable increase in the number of peroxisomes in the liver of an alcoholic. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the one responsible for detoxifying alcohol. There will also be an increase in the number of smooth ER in liver cells as a response and a way for the body to keep up with the surplus in consumption. If a person excessively intakes alcohol, various pathological stress responses will be prompted, one of which includes ER stress response. This contributes to alcoholic disorders that are detrimental to a person’s health.