Chronic ethanol ingestion induces morphological alterations in the uterine horn mucosa of Calomys callosus

Abstract The present work was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of chronic alcohol intake on the histology and ultrastructure of the endometrial lining epithelium of the uterine horn of Calomys callosus . Twenty adult female rodents, Calomys callosus , three months old, were used. These animals were divided equally into two experimental groups called control and alcoholic. The control group received a solid diet (mouse food) and tap water “ad libitum.” The alcoholic group received the same solid diet and ethanol was diluted to 20% in water. At the end of 120 days of treatment with 20% alcohol, all animals were anesthetized with ethyl ether and sacrificed. In light microscopy, a marked atrophy of the epithelial tissue covering the endometrium could be observed. A marked increase in lipid droplets dispersed throughout the cytoplasm, digestive vacuoles, and dilated cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum was observed. The presence of invasive immune cells in the epithelial tissue was also observed. Scanning electron microscopy analyses showed the presence of lipid droplets in the endometrial lumen. The alcoholic group showed intense Caspase-3 immunoreactivity in epithelial cells. Chronic ethanol ingestion induced epithelial lesions in the uterine horn, associated with increased Caspase-3 immunoreactivity and suggesting impairment of epithelial homeostasis and secretory activity.