Histological changes in the liver of fetuses of alcohol-treated pregnant rats.

In this study, immunolocalization of tenascin (TN), type IV collagen and histopathological changes in the liver of fetuses of pregnant Wistar albino rats treated with two doses of alcohol (1 and 5 g kg(-1) day(-1)) were determined. The samples of liver obtained from fetuses of rats on day 21 of gestation were evaluated morphologically and fixed for histology and immunohistochemistry. The sections stained with H&E and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method for TN and type IV collagen were evaluated and immunohistochemical staining results were examined by the intensity of labelling. Statistical evaluation of data showed that there were no differences in liver weights between the control and calorie control groups; but some differences in relative liver weight between the control and alcohol treatment groups were determined. The changes in the liver histology such as degeneration of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and increases in the number of megakaryocytes were seen in the fetuses of groups receiving alcohol during pregnancy. Increases in the immunolocalization of TN and type IV collagen in the liver of fetuses of alcohol-receiving rats were also found. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.