Paired helical filaments in rat spinal ganglia following chronic alcohol administration: an electron microscopic investigation.

Young Wistar rats were given a 15% (v/v) ethanol solution ad libitum for at least 6 months, spinal ganglia (C6-7 and L1-2) in some of the experimental animals showed paired helical filaments. These curvilinear profiles consisted of 10 nm filaments with the twist every 35nm. There was also an increase in granular material and in nematosomes. Whether these features may be caused by an impaired cerebral protein biosynthesis is discussed.