Histopathological changes of chronic alcoholism.

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 Virchow-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.