Ultrastructural changes on the epithelial cells of uterine tubes of Wistarrats after chronic ethanol ingestion

The present paper describes the morphological alterations of the epithelial layer of the uterine tubes of rats submitted to experimental chronic alcoh olism using anatomical, histological, ultrastructural and morphometric meth ods. Sixty adult rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) at the same age (3 months ) and with a mean body weight of 228 g were divided into two groups. The co ntrol group received solid diet (Purina rat chow) and tap water ad libitum. The alcoholic group received the same solid diet and was allowed to drink only sugar cane brandy dissolved in 30 degrees Gay Lussac (v/v). After peri ods of 90, 180 and 270 days of treatment animals at normal estrus were anae sthetised with ethyl ether, weighed and sacrificed. Subsequently the uterin e tubes were dissected, weighed and prepared for TEM and SEM methods. The f inal mean body weights were similar in the control and alcoholic groups. Th e morphometric analysis showed no difference between control and alcoholic epithelial height. The alcoholic animals showed ultrastructural alterations : intense lipid droplet and lysosomes accumulation, dilated rough endoplasm ic reticulum cisternae and vacuolization in both periods of treatment. It w as concluded that alcohol acts as a toxin on the epithelial layer of the ut erine tubes of rats.