Análises estereológicas e histopatológicas do fígado da prole de camundongos submetidos a etanol durante os períodos pré e pós natal

Abstract

The initial effects of ETOH in the body are well-being and pleasure, however its continuous use causes dependence and deleterious effects on organs important for life. We can observe in the literature that the ETOH consumed by women during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding passes to the offspring's body, bringing negative effects to fetal development, being one of the main known teratogenic agents. Excessive and prolonged exposure to ETOH in the body of adult individuals affects the structure and function of the liver, causing alterations present in Alcoholic Liver Disease (ADL). Given the importance of the liver for the functioning of the body, it is important to observe and describe whether exposure to ETOH in pregnancy and/or lactation can cause liver damage in the offspring, similar to ADL. Thus, the aim of this work is through histopathological and stereological analysis of the liver morphology of mice generated under the effect of ethanol during pregnancy and/or lactation. For this, 23 mice (Mus muscullus) young males and females were separated into 4 groups: Control Group (CG): n=6, offspring from mothers who did not receive ETOH at any time; Pregnancy Group (GEtG): n=5, offspring from mothers who received 15% ETOH only during pregnancy; Lactation Group (GEtL): n=6, offspring from mothers who received 15% ETOH only during lactation and Pregnancy + lactation Group (GEtGL): n=6, offspring from mothers who received ETOH throughout the gestation period and lactation. After a period of 34 to 36 days of life, the animals were weighed and euthanized, the liver removed and preserved for further processing and histological analysis. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained through the qualitative description of tissues and semiquantitative scores. Stereological analyzes were performed to obtain the volume of the figure using the Cavaliere method. The data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc by GABRIEL, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). There was a reduction in the body weight at weaning of the animals in the GEtL and GEtGL group when compared to the other groups, there was also a decrease in the final body weight and liver weight in the GEtL group when compared to the GEtG. All groups treated with ETOH showed tissue damage characteristic of alcoholic liver disease, such as: presence of micro and macro vesicular steatosis, hydropic degeneration and areas suggestive of necrosis According to the semiquantitative analyses, the GetGL group had more liver damage when compared to the other groups. ETOH exposure during the lactation phase has negative effects on offspring nutrition, compromising body and liver weight, as ETOH intervenes in the production and composition of breast milk, as well as in its consumption. Histopathological changes arise due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species produced during ETOH metabolism, affecting the structure of hepatocytes. Thus, acute exposure to ETOH in pregnancy and/or lactation stages showed deleterious effects for the offspring, compromising the development and liver morphology.