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Thromb Haemost 1984; 52(01): 011-014
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661125
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Effects of Administration of Ethyl Alcohol to Mice on Megakaryocyte and Platelet Development

G W Cooper
The Biology Department of The City College of The City University of New York, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
,
H Dinowitz
The Biology Department of The City College of The City University of New York, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
,
B Cooper
The Biology Department of The City College of The City University of New York, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 November 1984

Accepted 28 April 1984

Publication Date:
19 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The effects of administration to laboratory mice of 5-20% ethyl alcohol (v:v) as drinking water on megakaryocyte and platelet development were studied and compared with data on controls given tap water.

In two separate experiments, mice given 5-15% ethyl alcohol (v:v) for 13 or 11 weeks showed decreases in platelet counts and platelet 35S uptake when compared to the control groups. Mice fed 5-20% alcohol for five weeks showed platelet counts, bone marrow megakaryocyte numbers and diameters that were significantly reduced to 72% (P <0.001), 45% (P <0.001), and 71% (P <0.01), respectively.

The data implied that ethyl alcohol ingestion had a direct inhibitory effect on megakaryocyte and platelet development in mice, which resulted in a marked reduction in the levels of circulating platelets.

Keywords

Ethyl alcohol - Megakaryocytes - Platelets - Megakaryocytopoiesis