In investigating the effect of Alcohol on the estrous cycle and uterine
microstructure, hormonal and anti-oxidant concentration, twenty; adult female
Wistar rats weighing 95 to 155 g were used. The animals were grouped into four
groups of five rats each; group 1 is the control; while the animals in group 2- 4
received 0.13 mL/kg, 0.67 mL/kg and 1.34 mL/kg of Alcohol. The administration
was given with an orogastric tube orally for 28 days, weighed and sacrifice on the
29th day, using ketamine injection intraperitoneally. Blood, Uterus were
harvested for hormonal and biochemical assays. The Uterus were processed using
Hematoxylin and Eosin staining techniques and Masson trichrome stain for cytoarchitectural
assessment. The estrous cycle for the animals in group 1 had a
regular cycle, Alcohol groups had irregular cycle, an increase in body weight of
the animals in all the groups were recorded. Sections of Tissue showed
hypertrophy of uterine glands in the high dose of alcohol group and Thickening;
of epithelial lining for animals in group three. Alcohol groups had decreased
staining intensity for the collagen fibers in the uterus. Catalase, Sodium
dismutase activities decreased in group three and group four. Hormonal;
concentrations decreased in alcohol groups with a statistical significance value of
p < 0.05. Alcohol; can cause irregular estrous cycle, enlargement of the
endometrial gland with symptoms such as menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, anaemia
and can also affects implantation of the foetus.
Keywords: Estrous cycle, Wistar rats, Myometrium, Endometrium
