Class III ADH (i.e., the predominant class detected in the brain), closely resembles those targeting omega hydroxy fatty acid and therefore one possible role for this class of enzymes in the brain is the oxidation of long-chain fatty alcohols and omega hydroxy fatty acids (Giri et al., 1989). In addition, mammalian ADH (probably human Class I ADH) has also been shown to be a retinol dehydrogenase in the conversion of retinol to retinaldehyde which is then converted to retinoic acid by ALDH (Duester, 1991). Retinoic acid plays a significant role in neural tube development, therefore triggering ethanol-induced neural tube defects, in cases of fetal alcohol syndrome, possibly due to ethanol inhibition of retinol oxidation (Shean and Duester, 1993, Duester, 1994).
