Ultrastructural alterations of choroid plexuses of lateral ventricles of rats (rattus norvegicus) submitted to experimental chronic alcoholism

Adult male rats (Wistar lineage) were alcoholized with sugar cane liquor diluted at 30° GL during 300 days and sacrificed every 60 days in 5 stages. Samples of choroid plexuses of lateral ventricles were collected and examined at transmission electronic microscope to detect possible ultrastructural alterations and to raise possible pathological correlations. Gradual changes were observed in these animals during all the experiment: dilatation and enlargement of cisternae of Golgi complex, dilatation of RER, presence of digestive vacuoles and a large amount of pinocytic vesicles as well as vesicles with electronlucent content throughout cytoplasm, as well as an enlargement of intercellular space between basolateral interdigitation of the cells and of the connective tissue. The changes observed in the epithelium and connective tissue of choroid plexuses specially in 240 and 300 days of treatment are presumably due to a disturbance in hydroelectrolitic homeostasis, contributing to several morpho-functional disturbs of central nervous system. No changes were observed in the control group animals.