Effect of ethanol on the morphology of hamster jejunum

In order to study the morphological effects of exposure of the jejunum to low ethanol concentrations, we perfused hamster jejunum with 2.1-4.8% ethanol. Following 45 min exposure, many of the villi developed fluid-filled blisters. To compare these findings to the effect of an inert solute at similar concentrations, we perfused hamster jejuna with mannitol. This caused necrosis of the villus tips but no blister formation. Therefore the blisters were the result of the action of ethanol. The rat jejunum was less resistant to ethanol than that of the hamster. We suggest that the initial insult of the freely permeant ethanol is deep to the epithelium, resulting in accumulation of edema under the epithelium.