Effect of chronic ethanol on the Purkinje cell of the cerebellum of the rat [ultrasrtuctural study]

ABSTRACT

Ethanol is one of the most common materials used. It is widely used either in drugs or as a drink. In this study fourteen white adult rats were used, they divided into two groups. The first group was used as a control and consisted of four rats, the second group consisted of ten rats and given ethanol orally for one month. Ethanol caused damage to the Purkinje cell of the cerebellum either to the cells or to its fibers. Ethanol caused dilatation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. And vacuolation in the cytoplasm of the Purkinje cell. The myelin sheath showed degeneration. Also there were dilatation of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the dendrites. Vacuoles appeared in dendrites and in the axons