Ultrastructural alterations in ileal M cells of rats after chronic ethanol ingestion: reversal after cessation of ethanol.
Membranous (M) cells within the dome epithelium of ileal Peyer's patches have been shown to provide selective antigen entry for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. This study produced morphologic evidence of ethanol-induced disruption of the architecture in follicle-associated epithelium. The adherens type junctions of the lateral plasma membranes between M cells and columnar absorptive cells were disrupted. A 45-day exposure by ingestion of ethanol also produced marked changes in the ultrastructure of M cells. All experimental animals showed mitochondrial swelling with loss of matrix density, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The ethanol content of serum and chyme samples were 180 mg/dl and 160 mg/dl, respectively. This was well below the 4,280 mg/dl of the diet therefore a systemic mechanism was implicated for the changes observed. Membranous cells from the recovery group were normal 15 days after withdrawal from ethanol. We concluded that the ethanol-induced cytopathology in ileal M cells is reversible when ethanol exposure is discontinued.
Eversole
R
R
Center for Electron Microscopy, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo 49008.
Beuving
L
L
Ulrich
R
R
D000818:Animals; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D007077:Ileal Diseases; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000431:Ethanol