What changes would you expect to see in the liver cells of someone suffering from chronic alcoholism? View Available Hint (s) What changes would you expect to see in the liver cells of someone suffering from chronic alcoholism? decreased levels of DNA synthesis increased levels of endoplasmic reticulum activity increased levels of mitochondrial activity decreased levels of nuclear permeability

increased levels of endoplasmic reticulum activity

Explanation:

There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum in cells, rough and smooth. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) specially shows increased activity levels in liver cells of an alcoholic person. SER has important role in detoxifying and metabolizing toxic materials (like alcohol) and drugs. It has enzymes which convert fat soluble metabolites into water soluble metabolites for easy expulsion from body.

To respond to increased alcohol intake, SER needs to increase its metabolizing activity. To do so, it increases it surface area and also number of cells with SER increase. Hence, increased levels of endoplasmic reticulum can be observed. Once the alcohol subsides, SER returns to its normal state by decreasing the surface area and autophagocytosis occurs to destroy extra cells.