[Endocrine glands in alcohol drinkers and patient with alcoholism]

Chronic alcoholic intoxication results in atrophic and sclerotic changes of the endocrine glands, as was demonstrated by 225 autopsies of subjects who suffered from heavy drinking (165 cases) and alcoholism (60 cases). Morphometry and statistical data processing showed that alcoholism leads to irreversible changes, while heavy drinking causes changes that are reversible and compensated. The testes and ovaries are the most sensitive to ethanol and acetaldehyde, while the adrenals are the least sensitive. The pancreas retains its function for a long time despite pronounced changes.