Abstract Alcohol has been widely consumed for centuries and is linked to the aggravation of diseases. Several studies have shown that excessive consumption of ethanol results in morphophysiological changes in the male reproductive system. One of the effects of ethanol is the decrease in testosterone concentration and hormonal therapies are an alternative to minimize the changes resulting from chronic alcoholism. Qualitative studies were commonly carried out to evaluate the male histopathological alterations resulting from ethanol consumption, being necessary quantitative and non-subjective techniques. This study analyzes the importance of fractal analysis as a useful tool to identify and quantify tissue remodeling in rats submitted to ethanol consumption and hormone therapy with testosterone. Prostate of animals submitted to chronic ethanol consumption showed tissue disorganization, which was confirmed by an increasing of fractal dimension. Regarding the prostatic stroma, collagen fractal dimension and quantification revealed lower values in animals that were only submitted to androgen therapy. Thus, we can conclude that the fractal analysis was a useful tool to quantify tissue changes caused by ethanol consumption and androgen therapy. diseases system alcoholism nonsubjective non subjective techniques disorganization stroma Thus

The three-dimensional characteristics between the epithelium-connective tissue of palatine mucosa of opossum were demonstrated using NaOH method. The tissues were carefully removed and fixed in modified Karnovsky solution for 12 h at 4ºC. Then, the specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscope. The results revealed that the surface of hard palatine mucosa presents stratified squamous keratinized epithelium and several transverse palatine plicae. In the anterior region, some elongated or pointed epithelial protrusions were noted. The lamina propria showed numerous connective tissue papillae disposed in parallel ridges. At high magnification, the thick bundles of collagen fibers were observed.

Las características tridimensionales del tejido conectivo epitelial de la mucosa del paladar duro fueron estudiadas usando el método de NaOH. Los tejidos fueron cuidadosamente removidos y fijados en solución de Karnovsky modificado por 12 h a 4ºC. Luego, los especímenes fueron preparados para microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los resultados revelaron que la superficie de la mucosa del paladar duro presenta epitelio escamoso estratificado queratinizado y varios pliegues palatinos transversos. En la región anterior, se observaron algunas protrusiones epiteliales alargadas o punteadas. La lámina propia mostró numerosas papilas de tejido conectivo en froma de elevaciones paralelas. A mayor aumento, se observaron gruesos haces de fibras colágenas