title: Ultrastructural and biochemical studies of the brain and other organs in rats after chronic ethanol administration. IV. Stereological analysis of mitochondria from rat liver cells after intoxication with various ethanol doses.
abstract: Ultrastructural and stereological analysis of mitochondria of liver cells from rats was performed after intoxication with various doses of ethanol administered for various time periods in increasing concentrations. The following changes were observed in the cells of the experimental animals as compared with the control ones: -- a decrease of the surface area of mitochondria per unit volume of the hepatocyte, -- a decrease of the mean number of mitochondrial profiles per 100 micrometers 2 surface area of hepatocyte cross section, -- a decrease in the value of the axial ratio of mitochondrial profiles. A diminished volume fraction of the mitochondria was not observed. The above presented results show that, after ethanol poisoning, the mitochondria in hepatic cells become enlarged and rounded and their number seems to diminish. Qualitative studies demonstrated that the structure of mitochondria is frequently damaged, this consisting in injury to their membranes, formation of lamellar structures, and destruction of the system of cristae and matrix. This leads to the presence of degenerated, sometimes monstrously large mitochondria in the cells. The above described changes occurred as early as after 4 weeks of ethanol administration in increasing doses from 2.5 to 10 per cent. An increase of ethanol concentration to 42 per cent and prolongation of the period of treatment with ethanol to 12 weeks did not markedly enhance the changes.
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol