Cytogenetic damage of bone marrow cells produced by chronic alcohol consumption

Pair-feeding of rats with nutritionally adequate liquid diets containing 36% of total energy either as ethanol or as additional carbohydrate (in the controls) resulted in blood ethanol concentrations similar to those observed in alcoholics. Alcohol feeding for six weeks increased the frequency of micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes, an index of chromosomal damage in precursor cells. This was associated with bone marrow hypoplasia and erythrocyte macrocytosis, alterations commonly found in alcoholics. By contrast, acute ethanol administration produced no changes in the bone marrow. Cytogenetic damage of stem cells could lead to alterations persisting after alcohol withdrawal beyond the life span of effector cells.