Effect of an Apple Brandy from Normandy and of Ethanol on Epithelial Cell Proliferation in the Esophagus of Rats

The effects on cell population kinetics in the distal esophagus of an apple brandy from Normandy (Calvados), of ethanol diluted at a similar concentration, and of saline were investigated in rats. Animals were killed at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after a single intraesophageal instillation, and at 3 weeks after chronic administration of these solutions. In vivo labeling with [3H]-thymidine and autoradiography were carried out to determine the proliferative parameters. Vincristine sulfate was used to increase metaphase figures during the chronic experiment. Instillation of saline did not modify the parameters under study. Single instillations of both apple brandy and 56 degrees ethanol were followed by a significant increase in labeling (p less than 0.01) and mitotic indices (p less than 0.01). Chronic administration of both apple brandy and 56 degrees ethanol increased the labeling index (p less than 0.01) as well as the metaphase index (p less than 0.01). The proliferative responses after the apple brandy and after 56 degrees ethanol were similar in amplitude. These data suggest that ethanol alone may explain the mitogenic effect of Calvados in the esophagus.