INTERMITTENT ETHANOL EXPOSURE OF ADULT-RATS - HIPPOCAMPAL CELL LOSS AFTER ONE MONTH OF TREATMENT

LUNDQVIST C ALLING C KNOTH R VOLK B

C. Lundqvist et al., INTERMITTENT ETHANOL EXPOSURE OF ADULT-RATS - HIPPOCAMPAL CELL LOSS AFTER ONE MONTH OF TREATMENT, Alcohol and alcoholism, 30(6), 1995, pp. 737-748

38

INGLESE

Article

Substance Abuse

Alcohol and alcoholism → ACNP

0735-0414

30

6

1995

737 - 748

ISI

0735-0414(1995)30:6<737:IEEOA->2.0.ZU;2-V

The effects of intermittent intraperitoneal ethanol exposure (3 g/kg b ody weight twice daily) on hippocampal cells of adult rats were examin ed after a 1-month exposure period. Continuous oral exposure to ethano l in the drinking water (20%) over the same time period was used for c omparison. Pyramidal cells from the CA3 region and granule cells from the dentate gyrus were also qualitatively assessed using electron micr oscopy. One month of intermittent, peaking, exposure induced a signifi cant loss of CA2-CA3 pyramidal cells and an increase in the number of lipofuscin granules in the remaining cells. A significant reduction in thickness of the dentate gyrus granule cell layer was also seen in th e same animals. No significant reduction in pyramidal cell number or g ranule cell layer thickness was seen in continuously orally exposed an imals in spire of a higher total ethanol intake. These studies thus de monstrate the harmful effect of intermittent high ethanol peaks and re peated withdrawal phases on hippocampal cells of the mammalian brain a nd emphasize the importance of considering the differential effects of different ethanol exposure patterns when assessing ethanol-induced ce llular damage.