Effects of ethanol on the ultrastructure of the hamster femur

• Chen, H. ^[1] ; Hayakawa, D. ^[1] ; Emura, S. ^[1] ; Ozawa, Y. ^[1] ; Taguchi, H. ^[1] ; Yano, R. ^[1] ; Shoumura, S. ^[1]
  1. [1] Gifu University

     Gifu University

     Japón

     
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 16, Nº. 3, 2001, págs. 763-770
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Several previous studies have indicated that chronic ingestion of ethanol exerts harmful effects on bones. However, few data are available concerning the effects of ethanol on the ultrastructure of bone. To further elucidate the effects of ethanol on bone, we studied the morphology of femur in go lden hamsters after long-term treatment with ethanol. Six-week-old male hamsters were divided into 4 groups. Ethano ltreated animals were given ethanol at a concentration of 7% with food and water freely ava il able, whereas the pair-fed anima ls (weight-matched to ethanol hamsters) had tap water available as the only drinking flu id. The femur weig ht, blood ethanol and serum ca lcium concentrations were determined after 3 and 5 months.

    The bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body was measured before and after the experiment. Femurs of both sides were dissected and processed for morphometric measurement, light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the ethanoltreated hamsters, BMD of the whole body and the weight of femur tended to decrease when compared with those of the controls. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that the trabecula in the distal end of the femur from ethanol-treated hamsters were thinner than those of the contro ls. We also observed the disrupted swollen mitochondria of the femo ral osteoblasts and osteocytes in the ethanol-treated hamsters. No significant diffe rence in serum calcium levels and femora l osteoclasts was fo und. These results indicate that long-term treatment with ethanol results in disruption of femoral osteoblasts and reduction of bone mass in trabecu lar bone.