The effects of administration of ethyl alcohol to mice on megakaryocyte and platelet development

The effects of administration to laboratory mice of 5-20% ethyl alcohol (v:v) as drinking water on megakaryocyte and platelet development were studied and compared with data on controls given tap water. In two separate experiments, mice given 5-15% ethyl alcohol (v:v) for 13 or 11 weeks showed decreases in platelet counts and platelet 35S uptake when compared to the control groups. Mice fed 5-20% alcohol for five weeks showed platelet counts, bone marrow megakaryocyte numbers and diameters that were significantly reduced to 72% (P less than 0.001), 45% (P less than 0.001), and 71% (P less than 0.01), respectively. The data implied that ethyl alcohol ingestion had a direct inhibitory effect on megakaryocyte and platelet development in mice, which resulted in a marked reduction in the levels of circulating platelets.