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Histopathological Changes of Chronic Alcoholism
Author(s) -
Miyakawa Taihei,
Hattori Eisei,
Shikai Isao,
Shimoji Akitomo,
Nagatoshi Kenichi,
Suzuki Takaaki
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1977.tb02726.x
Subject(s) - cerebrum , diencephalon , vascularity , cerebellum , pathology , thalamus , medicine , limbic system , chronic alcoholism , anatomy , hypothalamus , neuroscience , central nervous system , biology
SUMMARY The brains of six cases of chronic alcoholics without arteriosclerosis and the other diseases were examined histopathologically. The results obtained were as follows: there were chronic nerve cell sclerosis and deletion with slightly increased glial cells in the cortex of the cerebrum, hypothalamus, mamillary body, amygdal body, dentate endplate of Ammon's horn and cerebellum. Increased vascularity was observed in the cortex of the cerebrum, while no increased vascularity was found in the mamillary bodies. In many areas, widening of Vir‐chow‐Robin spaces were observed. The above‐described findings were common changes in the brains in our six cases and they might have been induced by alcoholic effect on the brain tissue for a long time. Chronic nerve cell sclerosis in many areas, especially the diencephalon and limbic system, might have a deep relation to the character change of chronic alcoholics.