COMBINED EFFECTS OF PROTEIN-DEFICIENCY AND CHRONIC ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF RAT NEUTROPHILS - A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY

This study was performed in order to delineate the combined effects of protein deficiency and chronic ethanol ingestionon on the ultrastruct ural morphology of rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Morphomet ric methods have been used to show that chronic ethanol feeding decrea sed cell profile area, cytoplasm profile area, and the total number of cytoplasmic granules per cell profile. In addition, it was found that both protein deficiency and ethanol administration reduced the total number of cytoplasmic granules per cell profile and that their effects were aditive. Also, reduction of the volume density of granules was o bserved in PMNs from both protein-deficient animals and animals fed et hanol in combination with a protein-deficient diet. These animals cont ained cytoplasmic granules with a smaller mean diameter, whereas alcoh ol ingestion with a protein adequate diet was associated with normal m ean diameter of the granules. The volume density of mitochondria and e ndoplasmic reticulum nearly doubled during ethanol intake, and an inte ractive effect of ethanol consumption and protein deficiency was obser ved. The results indicated some ultrastructural abnormalities of PMNSs in chronic experimental alcoholism regardless of whether alcohol was administered as part of a nutritionally adequate or a protein-deficien t diet.