[Morphometric analysis of the toxic effect of ethanol on the structure of chromatin in interphase nuclei of rat hepatocytes].

A method of automated morphometric analysis of hepatic cell interphase nuclear chromatin (CHIN) structure was elaborated using scanning microspectrophotometer SMP-05 ("Opton", FRG). Liver sections of rats were used to investigate hepatic cell CHIN structure. The animals were administered ethanol intraperitoneally once per day within a month period in doses 4, 6, 8, 10 g/kg (1/3-4/5 LD50). Morphometric indexes indicating dose-dependent changes in hepatic cell CHIN structure are demonstrated. Statistical analysis of morphometric data has led to the conclusion that hepatic cell CHIN structural modification depends on two factors: ethanol damaging effect and hepatic cell regeneration.