[The morphofunctional changes in human adrenals in death from acute alcoholic intoxication]

Delipidation of the adrenal cortex in acute alcohol intoxication often presents as complete "washing" of sudanophilic and birefringent lipids (cholesterol and its esters) from the reticular and bundle zones. The interface between cortical sites devoid of and containing lipids is clearly seen as a relatively smooth horizontal line. Accumulations of phospholipid granules are seen in the protoplasm of "dark" adrenocorticocytes; the number of these granules is in inverse proportion to the content of cholesterol and its esters in the cell. In parallel with this, ascorbic acid granules in the cortical cells notably decrease.