Experimental intraperitoneal injection of alcohol in rats: Peritoneal findings and histopathology

PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the macroscopic and microscopic peritoneal findings after intraperitoneal injection of alcohol in rats. METHODS From January to February 2012, 20 male rats were used in this study: 15 rats received intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL 99.9% alcohol (group 1: experiment group) and 5 rats received intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL normal saline (group 2: control group). Animals from each group were sacrificed the day after alcohol injection and each week thereafter. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the peritonea and abdominal cavity were performed in each rat. RESULTS There was no significant peritoneal abnormality on macroscopic view, except for a whitish-colored parietal peritoneum around the injection site in 3 animals from group 1. In all but 1 of the animals in group 1, mild to moderate peritoneal inflammation or fibrosis was observed 1 and 2 weeks after alcohol injection. However, the peritoneal abnormality of alcohol injection had dissipated by week 3. Peritoneal abnormalities were not observed in group 2. CONCLUSION An intraperitoneal injection of alcohol in rats caused peritoneal inflammation or fibrosis during the first 2 weeks. However, these peritoneal abnormalities were short-lived and had completely disappeared after 3 weeks.