why alcoholics are likely to have much more smooth ER than teetotalers?

Answer 1

Any time large quantities of alcohol are consumed, the liver cells accumulate triglyceride. This can be extensive, occasionally resulting in huge livers with rounded edges. Alcohol and its metabolites affect virtually every aspect of lipid metabolism in the liver, and the net effect appears to be accumulation of triglycerides within the cells. These large livers in alcoholics are not only the result of lipid accumulation. Alcoholic livers tend to accumulate protein as well, presumably as a result of a defect in protein secretion by the hepatocytes. This protein retention by the alcoholic hepatocytes also increases liver weight.
Chronic alcoholic intake induces changes in mitochondrial size and shape and orientation of the cristae. Alcoholic mitochondria have defects in Kreb's cycle enzymes and are thus sluggish energy producers. The mitochondria may sometimes reach huge size, periodically becoming larger than the nucleus. Then they can be seen as large sharply rounded cytoplasmic red inclusions in routine preparations. In addition, alcohol is an excellent inducer of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Although most alcohol is metabolized by the cytosolic enzyme system known as alcohol dehydrogenase, perhaps 20% is metabolized in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, there is likely to be expansion of this membrane system. Expansion of the SER results in enlargement of the liver cells and relative clearing of the cytoplasm, producing a picture very much like cellular swelling due to increased water and electrolytes.

Teetotalers don't drink any kind alcohol.

Answer 2

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum has different roles in different cells.
In the liver it has a function of detoxification of drugs.
Probably alcoholics have more smooth ER in liver as this is where alcohol is metabolised and their enzymes are upregulated because of the amount of alcohol they drink