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?
- The smooth ER and peroxisomes in liver cells are similar in one of their functions which is detoxifying lipid-soluble drugs such as alcohol. The smooth ER in liver cells consists of enzymes that have the ability to produce glucose that is then released into the bloodstream to combat the negative effects of the presence of alcohol. Peroxisomes, on the other hand, oxidize toxic substances and decomposes by-products of the chemical reactions that come with detoxifying the substance. When large amounts of alcohol are regularly consumed, the amount of smooth ER and its enzymes increases as well as peroxisomes to protect the cells from its toxic effects.