The effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and constant illumination on the morphological and functional state of the liver

Abstract

Introduction. Alcohol abuse is one of major health and social problems of modern society, the essence of which is an increase in morbidity and mortality not only from alcohol misuse and its complications, but also from associated comorbid pathologies. The liver is the organ that is affected most by ethanol and its metabolites. A significant factor leading to melatonin-associated morphological manifestations in the liver is the so-called light pollution, a violation of the light–dark regime. At the same time, heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time (alcoholic excesses) and other forms of alcoholic illness are often associated with various sleep disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the morphological and functional state of the liver of Wistar rats under experimental alcohol intoxication in conditions of a fixed light regime and constant illumination. Materials and methods. Male rats (n=160) were kept under a fixed light regime, constant illumination, and at a combination of both light regimes with simultaneous experimental alcohol intoxication. We performed a pathological examination of the liver and determined morphometric parameters, hepatocyte ploidy, and the proportion of binuclear hepatocytes. Results. The consumption of 15% ethanol solution as a drink ad libitum for 3 weeks at a fixed light regime causes the development of fatty degeneration in the liver of laboratory animals. Secondary to it, changing lighting from fixed to constant is accompanied by the development of alcoholic hepatitis in about half of the animals. The results of micromorphometry indicate significant changes in the studied parameters of hepatocytes, which are expressed least of all in the case of ethanol consumption under fixed lighting condi-tions and affect most the cells of the liver parenchyma of rats with chronic alcohol intoxication secondary to constant lighting. Conclusion. Alcohol intoxication that occurs secondary to a melatonin deficiency caused by constant lighting is accompanied by a much greater severity, prevalence, and intensity of inflammatory tissue reactions and a variety of manifestations of liver pathology. Keywords: hepatocyte, alcohol, lighting regime, stress, fatty degeneration