Cytophotometry of liver cells from ethanol-fed rats: ethanol causes increased polyploidization and protein...

Cellular protein and DNA content were determined by Feulgen--Naphthol Yellow S cytophotometry on isolated liver cells from rats fed ethanol for 2--6 months. It was found that parenchymal liver cells after ethanol feeding contained 13% more protein than cells of the same ploidy class from controls; that the average parenchymal cell in ethanol-fed rats contained 16% more protein than in controls due to the increased occurrence of polyploid cells; that the protein accumulation develops over 2 months, does not progress thereafter and disappears after a few days of reduced ethanol intake; that the tendency to form polyploid cells is accentuated during liver regeneration. It is suggested that the effect of alcohol on microtubular function, which is regarded as the cause of the protein accumulation, may also bring about increased polyploidization.