Effect of chronic alcoholism on neuronal nuclear size and neuronal population in the mammillary body and the anterior thalamic complex of man

• Belzunegui, T. ^[1] ; Insausti, R. ^[1] ; Ibáñez, J. ^[1] ; Gonzalo, L. M. ^[1]
  1. [1] Department of Anatomy, Univesity of Navarra, Pamplona. Spain
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 10, Nº. 3, 1995, págs. 633-638
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The effect of chronic alcoholism on neuronal nuclear size and neuronal population of two memoryrelated diencephalic centres, the mammillary body and the anterior thalamic complex, has been examined in 24 chronic male alcoholics and 22 age-matched male controls. Cases were subdivided intro three age groups (30-44 years, 45-59 years and 60-75 years). The results showed a significant reduction in both neuronal numbers and nuclear size in alcoholics compared to controls. Differences were especially highin the youngest alcoholics. The intensity of liver damage (steatosis vs. cirrhosis) did not have any significant effect. Moreover, an age-related decrease of neuronal number and karyometry was seeen in controls but not in alocholics. Our results suggest that chronic alcoholism accelerates the rate of neuronal loss in the mammillary body and anterior thalamic complex to a degree equivalent to aging. Likewise, chronica alcoholism impirs the compensatory increase in neuronal nuclei area see in normal aging in ghese same structures. Our findings show that medial diencephalic memory centres are damaged in chronic alcoholism, which may contribute to the clinical symptomatology of these persons.