Morphological effects on the hard palatine mucosa of Calomys callosus submitted to experimental chronic alcoholism

J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol. 2002 Jan;34(1):77-83.

Abstract

The morphological effects of ethanol ingestion on the hard palatine mucosa of adult male Calomys callosus were observed. Twenty rodents were divided into two experimental groups: the control group received solid diet, Purina rat chow, and tap water ad libitum; the alcoholic group received the same solid diet and ethanol P.A. diluted 20% in water (v/v). After 270 days of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the hard palatine mucosa were prepared for TEM and SEM methods. The epithelial cells of the alcoholic group showed some alterations like cytoplasmatic lipid droplets, pycnotic nucleus and increased mitochondrial size. The lamina propria also presented intense lipid droplets accumulation. The morphological changes suggested that chronic ethanol consumption was able to modify the integrity of the mucosa.

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mouth Mucosa / ultrastructure*
  • Palate, Hard / ultrastructure*