Myocardial lesions induced by prolonged alcohol feeding in rhesus monkeys

To elucidate the effects of chronic alcohol ingestion in monkeys a synthetic, adequately balanced, fluid diet providing 40% of total calories from ethanol was gavaged through a stomach tube daily over a period of three months. Clinical, biochemical, radioisotope, and histopathological studies were performed at the beginning and end of the experiment. It was observed that chronic alcohol feeding at this dose level caused marked accumulation of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids in the serum and the liver. In the heart triglycerides and cholesterol ester were increased. Incorporation studies showed increased synthesis of triglycerides in the heart muscle and liver. Histologically the heart showed fatty change of the myocardium and evidence of focal myocytolysis, atrophy of muscle bundles, and early fibrosis. The liver showed generalized fatty change but no cirrhosis.