APOPTOTIC BODIES IN A MURINE MODEL OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASE - REVERSIBILITY OF ETHANOL-INDUCED CHANGES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol exposu re on the location and number of apoptotic bodies in murine liver. Liv ers from 21 control mice were compared with those of 41 animals expose d to ethanol vapour by inhalation for up to 23 days. In the control li vers, apoptotic bodies were identified in association with 36 per cent of the terminal hepatic venules examined and 88 per cent of these bod ies were located in the first two rows of perivenular hepatocytes. By comparison, in the ethanol-exposed group, apoptotic bodies were observ ed in association with 72 per cent of the terminal hepatic venules exa mined and more were found further from them. This increase in the numb er of apoptotic bodies was shown to depend on the duration of ethanol exposure and, furthermore, the effects of ethanol were shown to be com pletely reversed by a period of abstinence. These results indicate tha t ethanol exposure has time-dependent, reversible effects on both the location and the number of apoptotic bodies in murine liver. This exte nds knowledge gained from previous work on rat livers.