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OBJECTIVE The aim: To determine the dynamics of changes in metric parameters of the duct system of rat submandibular glands in normal conditions and chronic ethanol intoxication. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: 50 albino outbred rats were involved in the experiment. 10 animals were assigned in the control group, 40 animals - in the experimental group. Animals were sacrificed on 5, 9, 12 and 30 days by overdose of thiopental anesthesia. Pieces of the submandibular glands were embedded into epon-812 according to the conventional technique. RESULTS Results: On day 5 of the experiment the lumen diameter of intercalated duct reduced by 9,15 % (р <0,05). The lumen diameter of the striated ducts was by 5,29 % significantly greater than the values in controls (р <0,05). The lumen diameter of the granular ducts reduced by 2,45 % (р <0,05). On day 30 of the experiment the height of the epithelial cells of the intercalated ducts was by 8,47 % significantly less (р <0,05), the height of the epithelial cells of the striated ducts was by 12,27 % less (р <0,05) and the height of the epithelial cells of the granular ducts was by 11,96 % less (р <0,05) than the values in controls. CONCLUSION Conclusions: No recovery of parameters occurs by day 30 of the experiment, indicating the depletion of the secretory epithelium of the duct system, due to dystrophic changes caused by vascular disorder in the microvasculature.