Structure of mesenteric lymph nodes in healthy neonatal rats and rats subjected to prenatal exposure to ethanol

摘要

The aim of the present work was to study the topography and structure of cranial mesenteric lymph nodes in neonatal rats developing after prenatal exposure to ethanol. Females received 15% ethanol for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months before establishment of pregnancy and on throughout pregnancy. Morphometric and classical histological methods were used. The number of lymph nodes and their areas on sections in neonatal rats varied depending on the duration of pregravid exposure of females to ethanol. The lowest values of these measures were seen in rats born to females exposed to alcohol for three months. Increases in the duration of ethanol exposure led to increases in the number and cross-sectional area of lymph nodes. The largest number of lymph nodes was seen in rats born to females exposed to ethanol for four months, while the maximum area was seen in rats born to females exposed to ethanol for six months.