Growth and liver morphology after long-term ethanol consumption of rats.
Ethanol was administered to female and male Wistar rats by mixing it with their drinking water. Ethanol concentrations were gradually increased up to either 8% or 15%. Female rats receiving 8% ethanol in their drinking water consumed 5-13 g, males 4-10 g daily. The ethanol/total food caloric intake percentages were 13 to 20% and 9 to 15% for female and male rats, respectively. There was no difference in body weight and relative liver weight between treated rats and their controls. Female and male rats receiving 15% of ethanol in their drinking water consumed 8-14 g ethanol per kg body weight per day. The percentages of ethanol/total food caloric intake were stabilized at about 25% for both sexes. Growth of the rats differed only slightly from controls; a tendency for a higher increase of body weight of the control rats was found. No difference in relative liver weight between ethanol-treated and control rats was observed. Microscopic examinations revealed that the ethanol treatment resulted in fat accumulation in the liver cells. A proliferation of the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) was more marked in the 15% dosed rats than in the 8% dosed rats and more distinct in female rats than in male rats in both dosage groups.
van de Wiel
J A
JA
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Duijf
C M
CM
Pertijs
J C
JC
Copius Peereboom-Stegeman
J H
JH
Bos
R P
RP
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol