Demyelination of the mamillary bodies in alcoholism. A combined morphological and biochemical study.

Four different regions of the brain (the mamillary bodies, vermis of the cerebellum, the dorsal and medial part of thalamus, and the quadrigeminal plate) from nine male chronic alcoholics and nine controls were analyzed for morphological and biochemical abnormalities. The mamillary bodies, in contrast to the other three regions, showed loss of myelinated fibers and decreased concentrations of cerebrosides, cholesterol and phospholipids, indicating demyelination. It is concluded that this kind of lesion is common in chronic alcoholism.