Microscopy of Rat Thoracic  Aorta in Chronic Ethanol Intake

Feral ÖZTÜRK

Article Details

Microscopy of Rat Thoracic Aorta in Chronic Ethanol Intake

Authors:

Feral ÖZTÜRK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2002 Vol.32 Issue 2, pp.117-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2002

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000757027

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

The aim of this study was to determine the histological changes of the thoracic aorta in rats fed on alcohol for a period of 24 weeks.   Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The ethanol group  (n=10) was fed on a modified liquid diet (MLD) containing 7.2% ethanol  for 24 weeks.  The control group (n=10) was fed on MLD without ethanol throughout the experiment. At the end of the 24 weeks,  the carotid arteries of the rats were cannulated and their blood pressures were measured. Ethanol levels measured by using the NAD+/NADH enzyme-spectrophotometric method.  Rats were killed by decapitation. 3 mm long segments of thoracic aortae were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and investigated by light microscope, following routine tissue processing and staining.   In the ethanol group, rats had increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In the tunica intima, there was no evidence of any alcohol-induced effect that could indicate disruption, but some of the rats showed focal changes in their tunica media. The elastic lamellae of the media  were degenerated and fragmented. The aorta wall was thicker in these  areas. The tunica adventitia was normal and showed no differences from that of the controls.     Our results revealed that chronic alcohol intake degenerates media architecture in the rat thoracic aorta,  causes fragmentation of elastic lamellae and destroys the lamellar unit.

 

The aim of this study was to determine the histological changes of the thoracic aorta in rats fed on alcohol for a period of 24 weeks.   Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The ethanol group  (n=10) was fed on a modified liquid diet (MLD) containing 7.2% ethanol  for 24 weeks.  The control group (n=10) was fed on MLD without ethanol throughout the experiment. At the end of the 24 weeks,  the carotid arteries of the rats were cannulated and their blood pressures were measured. Ethanol levels measured by using the NAD+/NADH enzyme-spectrophotometric method.  Rats were killed by decapitation. 3 mm long segments of thoracic aortae were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and investigated by light microscope, following routine tissue processing and staining.   In the ethanol group, rats had increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In the tunica intima, there was no evidence of any alcohol-induced effect that could indicate disruption, but some of the rats showed focal changes in their tunica media. The elastic lamellae of the media  were degenerated and fragmented. The aorta wall was thicker in these  areas. The tunica adventitia was normal and showed no differences from that of the controls.     Our results revealed that chronic alcohol intake degenerates media architecture in the rat thoracic aorta,  causes fragmentation of elastic lamellae and destroys the lamellar unit.

Article Details

Microscopy of Rat Thoracic Aorta in Chronic Ethanol Intake

Authors:

Feral ÖZTÜRK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2002 Vol.32 Issue 2, pp.117-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2002

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000757027

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

thoracic aorta

ethanol

rat

light microscopy

Issues

Article Details

Microscopy of Rat Thoracic Aorta in Chronic Ethanol Intake

Authors: Feral ÖZTÜRK

Publisher: TUBITAK

Journal: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2002 Vol.32 Issue 2, pp.117-120

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2002

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2000757027

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6165

pISSN: 1300-0144

thoracic aorta

ethanol

rat

light microscopy

Issues

Authors:

Feral ÖZTÜRK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2002 Vol.32 Issue 2, pp.117-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2002

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000757027

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144