Ethanol-induced changes of granular endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes of mini-pig foetuses

The present study describes the occurrence of oblong or oval membranous aggregations of the endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes from half-term mini-pig foetuses, whose mothers in addition to their ordinary sufficient fodder have been given ethanol in amounts comparable to those consumed by human alcoholics. The structure of the aggregations and their relation to the granular endoplasmic reticulum indicate that they represent a change of the granular endoplasmic reticulum, induced by ethanol. The oval aggregations show resemblances to concentric lamellar bodies described in hepatocytes altered by disease or by experimental procedures not involving ethanol. It is concluded that the change of granular endoplasmic reticulum is probably a sign of an injurious effect of ethanol on the foetal hepatocyte.