Analysis of the distribution of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets associated with chronic ethanol treatment in rats with a disturbed circadian cycle

The present study examined the composition of lymphoid subsets in the peripheral blood of alcohol-preferring (PRF) and non-preferring (NPF) rats, in an experimental model of alcoholism involving the disruption of the circadian cycle. The absolute and relative number of lymphocytes in specific subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, NK, CD45RA) were measured using the flow cytometry method. When control animals with a disrupted circadian cycle (KN) were compared with a normal diurnal cycle group (KD), it was noticed that this disruption led to an increase in the absolute number of lymphocytes T (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells) and lymphocytes B (CD45RA+). After the period of time when the alcohol preference was seen, there was a change in response — as measured by the numbers and the percentage of lymphoid subsets in NPF rats — involving a lowering of NK and CD45RA+ cells. It seems that these animals exhibit higher sensitivity towards prolonged ethanol intoxication. However, the PRF animals — for whom the analysed values were close to those of the control group (KN) — tolerated the toxic effects of ethanol better and this may be related to their genetic predisposition.