ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE PARATHYROID-GLAND OF THE YOUNG GOLDEN-HAMSTER AFTER SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH ETHANOL

We studied the ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland of young golden hamsters after short-term treatment with ethanol (1.5 g/kg bw or 6.0 g/kg bw). We did not find any ultrastructural changes of the parathyro id gland after administration of 1.5 g/kg ethanol. In the hamsters, 3 hours after administration of 6.0 g/kg ethanol, the mean serum calcium concentration was significantly low as compared to that of the contro l animals. In the parathyroid gland 1 hour after administration of 6.0 g/kg ethanol, the Golgi complexes associated with a few prosecretory granules and the volume density occupied by the Golgi complexes decrea sed compared with that of the control animals. In the parathyroid glan ds 3 hours after administration of 6.0 g/kg ethanol, the Golgi complex es decreased as compared with those of the control animals, while the large vacuolar bodies increased. These findings suggest that the cellu lar activity of the parathyroid gland is suppressed after short-term t reatment with ethanol. Intracellular lumen was found in the parathyroi d chief cells 3 hours after administration of 6.0 g/kg ethanol, and th e significance of this structure is discussed.