GOT and GPT activities were measured in percutaneous needle biopsy specimens of human liver tissue from 98 cases including normal subjects and patients with various liver diseases. Hepatic GOT activity was markedly decreased in liver tissue of patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. Hepatic GPT activity was markedly decreased in liver tissue of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The GOT/GPT ratio in liver tissue was increased in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (5.32 +/- 2.03) and alcoholic liver disease (4.78 +/- 2.43). The increased SGOT/SGPT ratio in patients with alcoholic liver disease is due to primarily to the increased LGOT/LGPT ratio.