Ultrastructural Changes in Cerebral Histaminergic Neurons on Exposure to Alcohol

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to analyze the ultrastructural changes developing :n cerebral histaminergic neurons in 24 mongrel white male rats after administration of ethanol in acute experimental conditions (single i.p. doses of 1 and 4 g kg), in subacute conditions (sole source of drinking fluid. 4 g kg. for" days), or chronic conditions (2-3 g kg day for 6 months). Administration of alcohol led to the development of a variety of ultrastructural changes in the nuclei and organelles of histaminergic neurons. These reflect neuron destruction processes and adaptive changes directed at restoring and maintaining cell functions. These changes were nonspecific in nature and depended on dose, time after administration, and duration of treatment; overall, they corresponded to structural and histochemical changes detected at the light microscope lev el.