MORPHOMETRIC AND CYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DUODENAL EPITHELIOCYTES IN 10- AND 45 DAYSOLD OFFSPRING OF RATS DEVELOPING UNDER CONDITIONS OF ANTENATAL ALCOHOLIZATION

Objective - to study the morphological and cytochemical characteristics of the duodenal epitheliocytes of villi and crypts in 10- and 45-day offspring of rats developing under conditions of antenatal alcoholization. Materials and methods. The structure of the duodenal mucosa was examined in 15 rats aged 10 and 45days that were born from the mothers which received 15 % ethanol solution during the whole pregnancy. 16 rats born from the mothers that drank water during their pregnancy, served as a control. Morphometric methods were used to evaluate the height of the epithelial cells, the thickness of the brush border, the area and perimeter of the nuclei. Histochemical study included the demonstration and the assessment of glycoprotein, sialomucine, RNP content as well as of alkaline, acid phosphatase and oxidoreductases activities. Results. A decrease of the height of the epithelium of villi and crypts was detected in experimental animals, together with a reduction in the size of nuclei of their epitheliocytes. Cytochemical parameters demonstrated multidirectional changes, mainly in the epithelial cells of the villi. Conclusions. Antenatal alcoholization causes significant histological and cytochemical changes in the microvillous epithelial cells of the duodenal villi and crypts that persist during the postnatal period.

duodenum, intestinal villi, intestinal crypts, epitheliocytes, antenatal alcoholization