Cytochemical & ultrastructural alteration of cytoplasmic granules of rat peripheral blood neutrophils induced by chronic alcoholism & malnutrition

The specific influence of malnutrition on the pathophysiologic changes indu ced by chronic alcoholism is controversial. In an attempt to determine and demarcate the effects of protein malnutrition from those produced by alcoho lism and to evaluate the precise effect of alcohol per se on cytochemical a nd ultrastructural properties of rat polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) gra nules, we investigated the influence of chronic protein malnutrition or chr onic alcoholism alone and in combination, in rats, After a 4 month experime ntal period various PMN properties, such as cytochemical, morphometrical an d ultrastructural, as well, as neutrophil functions were studied. It was fo und that the degree of damage of PMNs induced either by ethanol or protein malnutrition alone was similar whereas their combination led to worsening o f all markers of PMN functional ability. Ultrastructural changes of neutrop hil granules including reduction, redistribution and atypical accumulation as well as appearance of autophagic vacuoles, confirmed their alteration wh ich was emphasised by the additive pathophysiological interaction of alcoho lism and chronic hypoprotein malnutrition.