1
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Fish EW, Mendoza-Romero HN, Love CA, Dragicevich CJ, Cannizzo MD, Boschen KE, Hepperla A, Simon JM, Parnell SE. The pro-apoptotic Bax gene modifies susceptibility to craniofacial dysmorphology following gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:1229-1243. [PMID: 35396933 PMCID: PMC10103739 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During early development, alcohol exposure causes apoptotic cell death in discrete regions of the embryo which are associated with distinctive patterns of later-life abnormalities. In gastrulation, which occurs during the third week of human pregnancy, alcohol targets the ectoderm, the precursor of the eyes, face, and brain. This midline tissue loss leads to the craniofacial dysmorphologies, such as microphthalmia and a smooth philtrum, which define fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). An important regulator of alcohol-induced cell death is the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. The current study determines if mice lacking the Bax gene are less susceptible to the pathogenic effects of gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure. METHODS Male and female Bax+/- mice mated to produce embryos with full (-/- ) or partial (+/- ) Bax deletions, or Bax+/+ wild-type controls. On Gestational Day 7 (GD 7), embryos received two alcohol (2.9 g/kg, 4 hr apart), or control exposures. A subset of embryos was collected 12 hr later and examined for the presence of apoptotic cell death, while others were examined on GD 17 for the presence of FAS-like facial features. RESULTS Full Bax deletion reduced embryonic apoptotic cell death and the incidence of fetal eye and face malformations, indicating that Bax normally facilitates the development of alcohol-induced defects. An RNA-seq analysis of GD 7 Bax+/+ and Bax-/- embryos revealed 63 differentially expressed genes, some of which may interact with the Bax deletion to further protect against apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these experiments identify that Bax is a primary teratogenic mechanism of gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Haley N Mendoza-Romero
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charlotte A Love
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Constance J Dragicevich
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Cannizzo
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen E Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Austin Hepperla
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Scott E Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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2
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Pinson MR, Chung DD, Mahnke AH, Salem NA, Osorio D, Nair V, Payne EA, Del Real JJ, Cai JJ, Miranda RC. Gag-like proteins: Novel mediators of prenatal alcohol exposure in neural development. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:556-569. [PMID: 35187673 PMCID: PMC9018584 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background We previously showed that ethanol did not kill fetal neural stem cells (NSCs), but that their numbers nevertheless are decreased due to aberrant maturation and loss of self‐renewal. To identify mechanisms that mediate this loss of NSCs, we focused on a family of Gag‐like proteins (GLPs), derived from retroviral gene remnants within mammalian genomes. GLPs are important for fetal development, though their role in brain development is virtually unexplored. Moreover, GLPs may be transferred between cells in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and thereby transfer environmental adaptations between cells. We hypothesized that GLPs may mediate some effects of ethanol in NSCs. Methods Sex‐segregated male and female fetal murine cortical NSCs, cultured ex vivo as nonadherent neurospheres, were exposed to a dose range of ethanol and to mitogen‐withdrawal‐induced differentiation. We used siRNAs to assess the effects of NSC‐expressed GLP knockdown on growth, survival, and maturation and in silico GLP knockout, in an in vivo single‐cell RNA‐sequencing dataset, to identify GLP‐mediated developmental pathways that were also ethanol‐sensitive. Results PEG10 isoform‐1, isoform‐2, and PNMA2 were identified as dominant GLP species in both NSCs and their EVs. Ethanol‐exposed NSCs exhibited significantly elevated PEG10 isoform‐2 and PNMA2 protein during differentiation. Both PEG10 and PNMA2 were mediated apoptosis resistance and additionally, PEG10 promoted neuronal and astrocyte lineage maturation. Neither GLP influenced metabolism nor cell cycle in NSCs. Virtual PEG10 and PNMA2 knockout identified gene transcription regulation and ubiquitin‐ligation processes as candidate mediators of GLP‐linked prenatal alcohol effects. Conclusions Collectively, GLPs present in NSCs and their EVs may confer apoptosis resistance within the NSC niche and contribute to the abnormal maturation induced by ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa R Pinson
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Dae D Chung
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Amanda H Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA.,Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Nihal A Salem
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Osorio
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Vijay Nair
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Payne
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Jonathan J Del Real
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - James J Cai
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program of Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.,Center for Statistical Bioinformatics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA.,Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program of Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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3
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Savage LM, Nunes PT, Gursky ZH, Milbocker KA, Klintsova AY. Midline Thalamic Damage Associated with Alcohol-Use Disorders: Disruption of Distinct Thalamocortical Pathways and Function. Neuropsychol Rev 2021; 31:447-471. [PMID: 32789537 PMCID: PMC7878584 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09450-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus, a significant part of the diencephalon, is a symmetrical and bilateral central brain structure. The thalamus is subdivided into three major groups of nuclei based on their function: sensorimotor nuclei (or principal/relay nuclei), limbic nuclei and nuclei bridging these two domains. Anatomically, nuclei within the thalamus are described by their location, such as anterior, medial, lateral, ventral, and posterior. In this review, we summarize the role of medial and midline thalamus in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaptation. We focus on the discoveries in animal models of alcohol-related brain damage, which identify the loss of neurons in the medial and midline thalamus as drivers of cognitive dysfunction associated with alcohol use disorders. Models of developmental ethanol exposure and models of adult alcohol-related brain damage and are compared and contrasted, and it was revealed that there are similar (anterior thalamus) and different (intralaminar [adult exposure] versus ventral midline [developmental exposure]) thalamic pathology, as well as disruptions of thalamo-hippocampal and thalamo-cortical circuits. The final part of the review summarizes approaches to recover alcohol-related brain damage and cognitive and behavioral outcomes. These approaches include pharmacological, nutritional and behavioral interventions that demonstrated the potential to mitigate alcohol-related damage. In summary, the medial/midline thalamus is a significant contributor to cognition function, which is also sensitive to alcohol-related brain damage across the life span, and plays a role in alcohol-related cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Savage
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
| | - Polliana T Nunes
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Zachary H Gursky
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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4
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Deng H, Yu B, Yu Y, Tian G, Yang L. NO66 overexpression rescues ethanol-induced cell apoptosis in human AC16 cardiomyocytes by suppressing PTEN and activating the PI3K/Akt signaling. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2020; 52:1093-1101. [PMID: 33085743 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmaa100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, Nucleolar protein 66 (NO66) was reported to be closely associated with alcohol exposure-induced injury. However, the role of NO66 in alcohol-induced cytotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we explored the potential effect and mechanism of NO66 on ethanol-induced apoptosis in human AC16 cardiomyocytes. The AC16 cell lines with NO66 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) overexpression were constructed. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the cell viability, membrane damage, and apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were applied to measure mRNA and protein expression. The results showed that acute ethanol exposure markedly augmented cytotoxicity and reduced NO66 level in AC16 cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of NO66 partially reversed ethanol-induced apoptosis. NO66 upregulation reversed the decrease in phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and B-cell lymphoma-2/Bcl-2-associated x (Bcl-2/Bax) ratio and the increase in PTEN, p53, and caspase-3 activity induced by ethanol treatment. Meanwhile, the application of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and PTEN overexpression attenuated the inhibition efficiency of NO66 on cell apoptosis. In addition, PTEN overexpression weakened the effect of NO66 on PI3K/Akt activation, without affecting the level of NO66. Our data suggested that NO66 overexpression might play an anti-apoptotic role in ethanol-induced cell injury via reducing PTEN and upregulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Deng
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Ge Tian
- Department of Cardiology, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
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5
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Wei Z, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Xia X, Zheng B, Sun X, Zhang G, Wang L, Zhang Q, Xu C, Jiang S, Li X, Xie B, Liao X, Ai Z, Li X. Antiapoptosis effect of ZiShen prescription to increase learning and memory abilities of compound Alzheimer's disease model rats. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:11241-11247. [PMID: 30790324 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment. In previous studies, the activities of extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs to treat brain function disorders caused by AD have already been reported. ZiShen prescription was a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescription reformed for AD disease based on the basic theory of TCM. To explore the effect of ZiShen (kidney-reinforcing) prescription on the learning and memory abilities, we made compound AD model rats by injecting d-galactose and ibotenic acid into the abdominal cavity to damage both sides of the nucleus basalis of Meynert with ibotenic acid. The trisected Y-maze was used to test the learning and memory abilities of AD model rats before and after treatment by ZiShen prescription and Piracetam. To investigate the mechanism of ZiShen prescription, the expressions of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2/Bax) in the cortex and hippocampus of compound AD model rats were detected in the cortex and hippocampus. The results show that, comparing with Piracetam, a clinical medicine to promote the thinking and memory for AD patients, ZiShen prescription significantly increased the learning and memory abilities of the compound AD model rats. After the treatment of ZiShen prescription, the expression of Bcl-2 was upregulated, along with a downregulation of Bax in the cortex and hippocampus of compound AD model rats. And the results indicated that the clinical benefits of ZiShen prescription were slightly better than Piracetam. Still, further well-designed studies are required to ensure the clinical effect of ZiShen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Wei
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoshuang Xia
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Boyu Zheng
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xugang Sun
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangming Zhang
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihe Jiang
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiulian Li
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingxin Xie
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Liao
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhu Ai
- Department of Geriatric, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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6
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Naghdi S, Slovinsky WS, Madesh M, Rubin E, Hajnóczky G. Mitochondrial fusion and Bid-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis are perturbed by alcohol with distinct dependence on its metabolism. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:1028. [PMID: 30301883 PMCID: PMC6177459 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1070-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Environmental stressors like ethanol (EtOH) commonly target mitochondria to influence the cell’s fate. Recent literature supports that chronic EtOH exposure suppresses mitochondrial dynamics, central to quality control, and sensitizes mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening to promote cell death. EtOH-induced tissue injury is primarily attributed to its toxic metabolic products but alcoholism also impairs tissues that poorly metabolize EtOH. We embarked on studies to determine the respective roles of EtOH and its metabolites in mitochondrial fusion and tBid-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. We used HepG2 cells that do not metabolize EtOH and its engineered clone that expresses EtOH-metabolizing Cytochrome P450 E2 and alcohol dehydrogenase (VL-17A cells). We found that fusion impairment by prolonged EtOH exposure was prominent in VL-17A cells, probably owing to reactive oxygen species increase in the mitochondrial matrix. There was no change in fusion protein abundance, mitochondrial membrane potential or Ca2+ uptake. By contrast, prolonged EtOH exposure promoted tBid-induced outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death only in HepG2 cells, owing to enhanced Bak oligomerization. Thus, mitochondrial fusion inhibition by EtOH is dependent on its metabolites, whereas sensitization to tBid-induced death is mediated by EtOH itself. This difference is of pathophysiological relevance because of the tissue-specific differences in EtOH metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamim Naghdi
- MitoCare Center, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William S Slovinsky
- MitoCare Center, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Muniswamy Madesh
- MitoCare Center, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emanuel Rubin
- MitoCare Center, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - György Hajnóczky
- MitoCare Center, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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7
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Granato A, Dering B. Alcohol and the Developing Brain: Why Neurons Die and How Survivors Change. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102992. [PMID: 30274375 PMCID: PMC6213645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The consequences of alcohol drinking during pregnancy are dramatic and usually referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This condition is one of the main causes of intellectual disability in Western countries. The immature fetal brain exposed to ethanol undergoes massive neuron death. However, the same mechanisms leading to cell death can also be responsible for changes of developmental plasticity. As a consequence of such a maladaptive plasticity, the functional damage to central nervous system structures is amplified and leads to permanent sequelae. Here we review the literature dealing with experimental FASD, focusing on the alterations of the cerebral cortex. We propose that the reciprocal interaction between cell death and maladaptive plasticity represents the main pathogenetic mechanism of the alcohol-induced damage to the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Granato
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy.
| | - Benjamin Dering
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK.
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8
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Vishwakarma SK, Fatima N, Lakkireddy C, Raju N, Bardia A, Sandhya A, Paspala SAB, Satti V, Khan AA. Role of drug transporters and heat shock proteins during ethanol exposure to human neural precursor cells and its lineages. Tissue Cell 2018; 51:14-23. [PMID: 29622083 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ethanol exposure to developing brain may alter the growth and differentiation of neurological cells resulting in unfavorable pathologies. Earlier studies have provided very limited mechanistic insights of cellular and molecular mechanisms which do not mimic with human situation due to varying cell types and poses potential challenges for investigation. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of ABC transporters and heat shock proteins mediated response in human neural precursor cells (NPCs) and its lineages during proliferation and lineage differentiation against ethanol exposure. METHODS Effect of ethanol exposure was examined for neuronal cell survival and variation in cellular phenotype during neurospheres development and lineage differentiation. Generation of reactive oxygen species, and variation in cell cycle was identified along with transcriptional profiling for pluripotent markers (Nestin, NCAM, Sox-2, and Notch-2), drug transporters (ABCB1 and ABCG2) and stress protein (HSP70) during ethanol exposure. RESULTS ABC transporters as well as HSP70 mRNA expression was higher during proliferation as compared to differentiation with chronic ethanol (1 M) exposure (p < 0.01). Ethanol exposure resulted in higher variability in size and shape of developing neurospheres and decreased ability to form new neurosphere colonies. Significant changes were observed in dendrite development due to late ethanol exposure (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated significant role of ABC transporters and HSP70 proteins in providing defense against ethanol-induced damage in human neurological cells. However, the over-expression of ABC transporter and HSP-70 proteins during such pathological conditions do not provide complete defense and additional strategies are required to repair the damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar Vishwakarma
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India
| | - Nusrath Fatima
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India
| | - Chandrakala Lakkireddy
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India
| | - Nagarapu Raju
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India
| | - Avinash Bardia
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India
| | - A Sandhya
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India
| | - Syed Ameer Basha Paspala
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India
| | - Vishnupriya Satti
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India
| | - Aleem Ahmed Khan
- Central Laboratory for Stem Cell Research & Translational Medicine, Centre for Liver Research and Diagnostics, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, 500058, Telangana, India.
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9
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Wang H, Wang X, Li Y, Yu H, Wang C, Feng C, Xu G, Chen J, You J, Wang P, Wu X, Zhao R, Zhang G. Chronic ethanol exposure induces SK-N-SH cell apoptosis by increasing N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor expression and intracellular calcium. Exp Ther Med 2018; 15:3791-3800. [PMID: 29581737 PMCID: PMC5863573 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.5902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been identified that chronic ethanol exposure damages the nervous system, particularly neurons. There is scientific evidence suggesting that neuronal loss caused by chronic ethanol exposure has an association with neuron apoptosis and intracellular calcium oscillation is one of the primary inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the inductive effects of intracellular calcium oscillation on apoptosis in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells and the protective effects of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, memantine, on SK-N-SH cell apoptosis caused by chronic ethanol exposure. SK-N-SH cells were treated with 100 mM ethanol and memantine (4 µM) for 2 days. Protein expression of NR1 was downregulated by RNA interference (RNAi). Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining and flow cytometry and cell viability was detected using an MTS kit. Fluorescence dual wavelength spectrophotometry was used to determine the intracellular calcium concentration and the levels of NR1 and caspase-3 were detected using western blotting. NR1 mRNA levels were also detected using qPCR. It was found that chronic ethanol exposure reduced neuronal cell viability and caused apoptosis of SK-N-SH cells, and the extent of damage in SK-N-SH cells was associated with ethanol exposure concentration and time. In addition, chronic ethanol exposure increased the concentration of intracellular calcium in SK-N-SH cells by inducing the expression of NMDAR, resulting in apoptosis, and memantine treatment reduced ethanol-induced cell apoptosis. The results of the present study indicate that the application of memantine may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of alcoholic dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Yan Li
- No.1 English Department, School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Changliang Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Chunmei Feng
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Guohui Xu
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Jiajun Chen
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Jiabin You
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Xu Wu
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Guohua Zhang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
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10
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Du AL, Qin HZ, Jiang HB, Fu PY, Lou K, Xu YM. Aminooxyacetic acid improves learning and memory in a rat model of chronic alcoholism. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:1568-1574. [PMID: 30127117 PMCID: PMC6126113 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.237120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic alcoholism seriously damages the central nervous system and leads to impaired learning and memory. Cell damage in chronic alcoholism is strongly associated with elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and calcium ion overload. Aminooxyacetic acid is a cystathionine-β-synthase activity inhibitor that can reduce H2S formation in the brain. This study sought to observe the effect of aminooxyacetic acid on learning and memory in a chronic alcoholism rat model. Rats were randomly divided into three groups. Rats in the control group were given pure water for 28 days. Rats in the model group were given 6% alcohol for 28 days to establish an alcoholism rat model. Rats in the aminooxyacetic acid remedy group were also given 6% alcohol for 28 days and were also intraperitoneally injected daily with aminooxyacetic acid (5 mg/kg) from day 15 to day 28. Learning and memory was tested using the Morris water maze test. The ultrastructure of mitochondria in the hippocampus was observed by electron microscopy. H2S levels in the hippocampus were measured indirectly by spectrophotometry, and ATPase activity was measured using a commercial kit. The expression of myelin basic protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Compared with the control group, latency and swimming distance were prolonged in the navigation test on days 2, 3, and 4 in the model group. In the spatial probe test on day 5, the number of platform crosses was reduced in the model group. Cristae cracks, swelling or deformation of mitochondria appeared in the hippocampus, the hippocampal H2S level was increased, the mitochondrial ATPase activity was decreased, and the expression of myelin basic protein in the hippocampus was down-regulated in the model group compared with the control group. All the above indexes were ameliorated in the aminooxyacetic acid remedy group compared with the model group. These findings indicate that aminooxyacetic acid can improve learning and memory in a chronic alcoholism rat model, which may be associated with reduction of hippocampal H2S level and mitochondrial ATPase activity, and up-regulation of myelin basic protein levels in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Lin Du
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province; Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Research, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Hao-Zhi Qin
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Research, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Hong-Bo Jiang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou; Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Peng-Yan Fu
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Research, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Ke Lou
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Research, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
| | - Yu-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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11
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Neuronal Loss in the Developing Cerebral Cortex of Normal and Bax-Deficient Mice: Effects of Ethanol Exposure. Neuroscience 2018; 369:278-291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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12
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Yuan F, Chen X, Liu J, Feng W, Cai L, Wu X, Chen SY. Sulforaphane restores acetyl-histone H3 binding to Bcl-2 promoter and prevents apoptosis in ethanol-exposed neural crest cells and mouse embryos. Exp Neurol 2017; 300:60-66. [PMID: 29069573 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables. SFN's cytoprotective properties have been demonstrated in several models associated with a variety of disorders. Our recent studies have shown that SFN protects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in neural crest cells (NCCs), an ethanol-sensitive cell population implicated in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This study is designed to test the hypothesis that SFN can prevent ethanol-induced apoptosis in NCCs by inhibiting HDAC and increasing histone acetylation at the Bcl-2 promoter. We found that exposure to 50mM ethanol resulted in a significant increase in HDAC activities in NCCs. Treatment with SFN decreased the activities of HDAC in ethanol-exposed NCCs. We also found that SFN treatment significantly increased the expression of acetyl-histone H3 in NCCs treated with ethanol. ChIP-qPCR assay revealed that ethanol exposure significantly decreased acetyl-histone H3 binding to the Bcl-2 promoter while supplementing with SFN reversed the ethanol-induced reduction in acetyl-histone H3 binding to the Bcl-2 promoter. In addition, SFN treatment restored the expression of Bcl-2 in ethanol-exposed NCCs and diminished ethanol-induced apoptosis in NCCs. Treatment with SFN also significantly diminished apoptosis in mouse embryos exposed to ethanol in vivo. These results demonstrate that SFN can epigenetically restore the expression of Bcl-2 and attenuate ethanol-induced apoptosis by increasing histone acetylation at the Bcl-2 promoter and suggest that SFN may prevent FASD through epigenetic regulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; University of Louisville, Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xiaopan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; University of Louisville, Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, 158 Shangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; University of Louisville, Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Wenke Feng
- University of Louisville, Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Lu Cai
- Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xiaoyang Wu
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shao-Yu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; University of Louisville, Alcohol Research Center, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
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13
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De Giorgio A. The roles of motor activity and environmental enrichment in intellectual disability. Somatosens Mot Res 2017; 34:34-43. [PMID: 28140743 DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2016.1278204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In people with intellectual disabilities, an enriched environment can stimulate the acquisition of motor skills and could partially repair neuronal impairment thanks to exploration and motor activity. A deficit in environmental and motor stimulation leads to low scores in intelligence tests and can cause serious motor skill problems. Although studies in humans do not give much evidence for explaining basic mechanisms of intellectual disability and for highlighting improvements due to enriched environmental stimulation, animal models have been valuable in the investigation of these conditions. Here, we discuss the role of environmental enrichment in four intellectual disabilities: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Down, Rett, and Fragile X syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Giorgio
- a Department of Psychology , eCampus University , Novedrate , Italy.,b Department of Psychology , Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Milano , Italy
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14
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Reis KP, Heimfarth L, Pierozan P, Ferreira F, Loureiro SO, Fernandes CG, Carvalho RV, Pessoa-Pureur R. High postnatal susceptibility of hippocampal cytoskeleton in response to ethanol exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Alcohol 2015; 49:665-74. [PMID: 26314629 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure to offspring during pregnancy and lactation leads to developmental disorders, including central nervous system dysfunction. In the present work, we have studied the effect of chronic ethanol exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the phosphorylating system associated with the astrocytic and neuronal intermediate filament (IF) proteins: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament (NF) subunits of low, medium, and high molecular weight (NFL, NFM, and NFH, respectively) in 9- and 21-day-old pups. Female rats were fed with 20% ethanol in their drinking water during pregnancy and lactation. The homeostasis of the IF phosphorylation was not altered in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, or hippocampus of 9-day-old pups. However, GFAP, NFL, and NFM were hyperphosphorylated in the hippocampus of 21-day-old pups. PKA had been activated in the hippocampus, and Ser55 in the N-terminal region of NFL was hyperphosphorylated. In addition, JNK/MAPK was activated and KSP repeats in the C-terminal region of NFM were hyperphosphorylated in the hippocampus of 21-day-old pups. Decreased NFH immunocontent but an unaltered total NFH/phosphoNFH ratio suggested altered stoichiometry of NFs in the hippocampus of ethanol-exposed 21-day-old pups. In contrast to the high susceptibility of hippocampal cytoskeleton in developing rats, the homeostasis of the cytoskeleton of ethanol-fed adult females was not altered. Disruption of the cytoskeletal homeostasis in neural cells supports the view that regions of the brain are differentially vulnerable to alcohol insult during pregnancy and lactation, suggesting that modulation of JNK/MAPK and PKA signaling cascades target the hippocampal cytoskeleton in a window of vulnerability in 21-day-old pups. Our findings are relevant, since disruption of the cytoskeleton in immature hippocampus could contribute to later hippocampal damage associated with ethanol toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Pires Reis
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Luana Heimfarth
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Paula Pierozan
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rônan Vivian Carvalho
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Regina Pessoa-Pureur
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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15
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Krishnamoorthy M, Gerwe BA, Scharer CD, Sahasranaman V, Eilertson CD, Nash RJ, Usta SN, Kelly S, Rose M, Peraza R, Arumugham J, Stewart B, Stice SL, Nash RJ. Ethanol alters proliferation and differentiation of normal and chromosomally abnormal human embryonic stem cell-derived neurospheres. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 98:283-95. [PMID: 23696232 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.21063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol is a powerful substance and, when consumed during pregnancy, has significant psychoactive and developmental effects on the developing fetus. These abnormalities include growth retardation, neurological deficits, and behavioral and cognitive deficiencies, commonly referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The effect of ethanol has been reported to affect cellular development on the embryonic level, however, not much is known about mutations contributing to the influence of ethanol. The purpose of our study was to determine if mutation contribute to changes in differentiation patterning, cell-cycle regulatory gene expression, and DNA methylation in human embryonic stem cells after ethanol exposure. We exposed human embryonic stem cells (with and without know DNA mutations) to a low concentration (20 mM) of ethanol and measured neurosphere proliferation and differentiation, glial protein levels, expression of various cell-cycle genes, and DNA methylation. Ethanol altered cell-cycle gene expression between the two cell lines; however, gene methylation was not affected in ether lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malini Krishnamoorthy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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16
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Early exposure to alcohol leads to permanent impairment of dendritic excitability in neocortical pyramidal neurons. J Neurosci 2012; 32:1377-82. [PMID: 22279222 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5520-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol in utero is a well known cause of mental retardation in humans. Using experimental models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, it has been demonstrated that cortical pyramidal neurons and their projections are profoundly and permanently impaired. Yet, how the functional features of these cells are modified and how such modifications impact cognitive processes is still unknown. To address this, we studied the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of pyramidal neurons in young adult rats (P30-P60) exposed to ethanol inhalation during the first week of postnatal life (P2-P6). Dual whole-cell recordings from the soma and distal apical dendrites were performed and, following the injection of depolarizing current into the dendrites, layer 5 neurons from ethanol-treated (Et) animals displayed a lower number and a shorter duration of dendritic spikes, attributable to a downregulation of calcium electrogenesis. As a consequence, the mean number of action potentials recorded at the soma after dendritic current injection was also lower in Et animals. No significant differences between Et and controls were observed in the firing pattern elicited in layer 5 neurons by steps of depolarizing somatic current, even though the firing rate was significantly lower in Et animals. The firing pattern and the firing rate of layer 2/3 neurons were not affected by alcohol exposure.
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17
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Ulupinar E, Yucel F, Erol K. Lesion-induced synaptic plasticity in the somatosensory cortex of prenatally stressed rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:548-57. [PMID: 21839167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2011] [Revised: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal stress exposure causes long-lasting impairments of the behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to later stressors of the offspring. Although mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown, abnormalities in the neuronal plasticity might be responsible for neurobiological alterations. This study used the whisker-to-barrel pathway as a model system to investigate the effects of prenatal stress on lesion-induced plasticity of neurons. Pregnant rats were subjected to immobilization stress during the trigeminal neurogenesis period, corresponding to gestational days 12 to 17, for three hours a day. After birth, the middle row (C) whisker follicles of pups from the control and stressed groups were electrocauterized. Ten days later, tangentially sectioned cortical hemispheres were stained with cytochrome oxidase histochemistry to calculate the volumes of each barrel row (A-E) in both lesioned and intact sides of the cortex, using stereological methods. The adrenal to body weight ratios were significantly increased in stressed animals, when compared to the controls. The pattern and total volume of the barrel subfield remained unaltered, but the lesion-induced map plasticity index, calculated as the D/C ratio, decreased in stressed animals. In addition, the BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor), NT-3 (neurotrophin-3) and the cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation levels in tissue homogenates of the barrel cortices were measured using the ELISA method. In prenatally stressed animals, the BDNF and NT-3 levels were reduced on the lesioned side, but significant CREB activation was observed on the intact side of the barrel cortex. Taken together, the results show that prenatal stress exposure negatively affects critical period plasticity by reducing the expansion of active barrels following peripheral whisker lesion. These changes arise independent of CREB phosphorylation and appear to be mediated by reduced levels of neurotrophins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emel Ulupinar
- Department of Anatomy, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir, 26480, Turkey.
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18
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Wu J, Song R, Song W, Li Y, Zhang Q, Chen Y, Fu Y, Fang W, Wang J, Zhong Z, Ling H, Zhang L, Zhang F. Chlorpromazine protects against apoptosis induced by exogenous stimuli in the developing rat brain. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21966. [PMID: 21779358 PMCID: PMC3136481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2011] [Accepted: 06/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chlorpromazine (CPZ), a commonly used antipsychotic drug, was found to play a neuroprotective role in various models of toxicity. However, whether CPZ has the potential to affect brain apoptosis in vivo is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of CPZ on the apoptosis induced by exogenous stimuli. Methodology The ethanol treated infant rat was utilized as a valid apoptotic model, which is commonly used and could trigger robust apoptosis in brain tissue. Prior to the induction of apoptosis by subcutaneous injection of ethanol, 7-day-old rats were treated with CPZ at several doses (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. Apoptotic cells in the brain were measured using TUNEL analysis, and the levels of cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c, the pro-apoptotic factor Bax and the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 were assessed by immunostaining or western blot. Findings Compared to the group injected with ethanol only, the brains of the CPZ-pretreated rats had fewer apoptotic cells, lower expression of cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c and Bax, and higher expression of Bcl-2. These results demonstrate that CPZ could prevent apoptosis in the brain by regulating the mitochondrial pathway. Conclusions CPZ exerts an inhibitory effect on apoptosis induced by ethanol in the rat brain, intimating that it may offer a means of protecting nerve cells from apoptosis induced by exogenous stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Rongrong Song
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wuqi Song
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pharmaceutical, Harbin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yujun Li
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pharmaceutical, Harbin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qingmeng Zhang
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yang Chen
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yingmei Fu
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wenjuan Fang
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jindong Wang
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhaohua Zhong
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hong Ling
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Liming Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- * E-mail: (LZ); (FZ)
| | - Fengmin Zhang
- The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Pathogenic Biology, Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pharmaceutical, Harbin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- * E-mail: (LZ); (FZ)
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19
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Balaszczuk V, Bender C, Pereno GL, Beltramino CA. Alcohol-induced neuronal death in central extended amygdala and pyriform cortex during the postnatal period of the rat. Int J Dev Neurosci 2011; 29:733-42. [PMID: 21664448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2011.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy may cause a neurotoxic syndrome defined as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in their offspring. This disorder is characterized by reduction in brain size, cognitive deficits and emotional/social disturbances. These alterations are thought to be caused by an alcohol-induced increase in apoptosis during neurodevelopment. Little is known about neuroapoptosis in the central extended amygdala and the pyriform cortex, which are key structures in emotional/social behaviors. The goal of this study was to determine the vulnerability of neuroapoptotic alcohol effects in those areas. Rats were administered alcohol (2.5g/kg s.c. at 0 and 2h) or saline on postnatal day (PND) 7, 15 and 20. The Amino-cupric-silver technique was used to evaluate neurodegeneration and immunohistochemistry to detect activated caspases 3-8 and 9 at 2h, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24h after drug administration. We measured blood alcohol levels each hour, from 2 to 8h post second administration of alcohol in each of the ages studied. Results showed alcohol induced apoptotic neurodegeneration in the central extended amygdala on PND 7 and 15, and pyriform cortex on PND 7, 15 and 20. These structures showed activation of caspase 3 and 9 but not of caspase 8 suggesting that alcohol-induced apoptosis could occur by the intrinsic pathway. The pharmacokinetic differences between ages did not associate with the neurodegeneration age dependence. In conclusion, these limbic areas are damaged by alcohol, and each one has their own window of vulnerability during the postnatal period. The possible implications in emotional/social features in FASD are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Balaszczuk
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, Friuli, Córdoba, Argentina.
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20
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Hicks SD, Miller MW. Effects of ethanol on transforming growth factor Β1-dependent and -independent mechanisms of neural stem cell apoptosis. Exp Neurol 2011; 229:372-80. [PMID: 21419121 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2010] [Revised: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell vitality is critical for the growth of the developing brain. Growth factors can define the survival of neural stem cells (NSCs) and ethanol can affect growth factor-mediated activities. The present study tested two hypotheses: (a) ethanol causes the apoptotic death of NSCs and (b) this effect is influenced by the ambient growth factor. Monolayer cultures of non-immortalized NS-5 cells were exposed to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 or transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 in the absence or presence of ethanol for 48 h. Ethanol killed NSCs as measured by increases in the numbers of ethidium bromide+ and annexin V+ cells and decreases in the number of calcein AM+ (viable) cells. These toxic effects were promoted by TGFβ1. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction array of apoptosis-related mRNAs revealed an ethanol-induced increase (≥2-fold change; p<0.05) in transcripts involved in Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling. These effects, particularly the FasL pathway, were potentiated by TGFβ1. Immunocytochemical analyses of NS-5 cells showed that transcriptional alterations translated into consistent up-regulation of protein expression. Experiments with the neocortical proliferative zones harvested from fetal mice exposed to ethanol showed that ethanol activated similar molecular systems in vivo. Thus, ethanol induces NSC death through two distinct molecular mechanisms, one is initiated by TGFβ1 (FasL) and another (through TNF) which is TGFβ1-independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Hicks
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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21
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Mooney SM, Miller MW. Role of neurotrophins on postnatal neurogenesis in the thalamus: prenatal exposure to ethanol. Neuroscience 2011; 179:256-66. [PMID: 21277941 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2010] [Revised: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A second wave of neuronal generation occurs in the ventrobasal nucleus of the rat thalamus (VB) during the first three postnatal weeks. The present study tested the hypotheses (1) that postnatal neurogenesis in the VB is neurotrophin-regulated and (2) that ethanol-induced changes in this proliferation are mediated by neurotrophins. The first studies examined the effects of neurotrophins on the numbers of cycling cells in ex vivo preparations of the VB from 3-day-old rats. The proportion of cycling (Ki-67-positive) VB cells was higher in cultured thalamic slices treated with neurotrophins than in controls. Interestingly, this increase occurred with nerve growth factor (NGF) alone or with a combination of NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not with BDNF alone. Based on these data, the VBs from young offspring of pregnant rats fed an ethanol-containing or an isocaloric non-alcoholic liquid diet were examined between postnatal day (P) 1 and P31. Studies used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblots to explore the effects of ethanol on the expression of neurotrophins, their receptors, and representative signaling proteins. Ethanol altered the expression of neurotrophins and receptors throughout the first postnatal month. Expression of NGF increased, but there was no change in the expression of BDNF. The high affinity receptors (TrkA and TrkB) were unchanged but ethanol decreased expression of the low affinity receptor, p75. One downstream signaling protein, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), decreased but Akt expression was unchanged. Thus, postnatal cell proliferation in the VB of young rat pups is neurotrophin-responsive and is affected by ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Mooney
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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Tavian D, De Giorgio A, Granato A. Selective underexpression of Kv3.2 and Kv3.4 channels in the cortex of rats exposed to ethanol during early postnatal life. Neurol Sci 2011; 32:571-7. [PMID: 21234782 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-010-0446-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The expression of voltage-gated potassium channels belonging to the Kv3 family has been studied in the sensori-motor cortex of rats exposed to alcohol inhalation during the first postnatal week (P2-P6). The study was carried out using comparative RT-PCR. At P9, a significant reduction of the expression of Kv3.2 and Kv3.4 subunits occurred in alcohol-treated animals, as compared with controls. The expression of the Kv3.4a splicing variant, which is thought to be critically involved in the high-frequency firing of some cortical interneurons, was also correspondingly reduced. The downregulation of Kv3.2 and Kv3.4a subunits represented a long-lasting effect of alcohol exposure, since it was also observed in P24 animals. The expression of both Kv3.1 and Kv3.3 channels appeared to be not significantly affected by alcohol exposure. An increased susceptibility to apoptotic neuronal death after early postnatal exposure to ethanol was confirmed by the lower bcl-2/bax ratio observed in alcohol-treated animals. Although Kv3.4 subunits are thought to trigger apoptosis, the lack of upregulation in our model argues against their involvement in the mechanism leading to alcohol-induced apoptosis. The possible consequences of the selective downregulation of Kv3 subunits on the cortical function, as well as their relevance for the genesis of fetal alcohol effects, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Tavian
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Largo A. Gemelli 1, Milan, Italy
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Teplova VV, Belosludtsev KN, Belosludtseva NV, Holmuhamedov EL. Role of mitochondria in hepatotoxicity of ethanol. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2010; 55:951-958. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350910060114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
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Jung KH, Das ND, Park JH, Lee HT, Choi MR, Chung MK, Park KS, Jung MH, Lee BC, Choi IG, Chai YG. Effects of acute ethanol treatment on NCCIT cells and NCCIT cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs). Toxicol In Vitro 2010; 24:1696-704. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2010.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2010] [Revised: 04/08/2010] [Accepted: 05/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Papia MF, Burke MW, Zangenehpour S, Palmour RM, Ervin FR, Ptito M. Reduced soma size of the M-neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus following foetal alcohol exposure in non-human primates. Exp Brain Res 2010; 205:263-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-010-2364-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2010] [Accepted: 07/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Hicks SD, Middleton FA, Miller MW. Ethanol-induced methylation of cell cycle genes in neural stem cells. J Neurochem 2010; 114:1767-80. [PMID: 20626555 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06886.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol inhibits the proliferation of neural precursors by altering mitogenic and anti-mitogenic growth factor signaling and can affect global methylation activity in the fetus. We tested the hypothesis that epigenetic modification of specific cell cycle genes underlies the ethanol-induced inhibition of growth factor-regulated cell cycle progression. Monolayer cultures of neural stem cells (NSCs) were treated with fibroblast growth factor 2 or transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 in the absence or presence of ethanol. Ethanol increased the total length of the cell cycle by elongating the amount of time spent in the gap 1 (G1) and synthesis (S) phases of the cell cycle. Ethanol induced the hypermethylation of multiple cell cycle genes associated with the G1/S and gap 2/mitotic phase (G2/M) checkpoints and increased the expression and activity of DNA methyltransferases. These changes were most pronounced in the presence of TGFβ1. Epigenetic alterations paralleled the down-regulation of associated transcripts and other checkpoint-related mRNAs both in vitro (NS-5 cell culture) and in vivo (fetal mouse cortex). Ethanol-induced hypermethylation was accompanied by decreases in the proportion of NSCs expressing associated cell cycle proteins. Thus, ethanol disrupts growth factor-related cell cycle progression by inducing checkpoint restriction at the G1/S transition through a feed-forward system involving the methylation of G2/M regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Hicks
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York - Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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Mooney SM, Miller MW. Prenatal exposure to ethanol affects postnatal neurogenesis in thalamus. Exp Neurol 2010; 223:566-73. [PMID: 20170653 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 02/09/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The number of neurons in the ventrobasal thalamus (VB) in the adolescent rat is unaffected by prenatal exposure to ethanol. This is in sharp contrast to other parts of the trigeminal-somatosensory system, which exhibit 30-35% fewer neurons after prenatal ethanol exposure. The present study tested the hypothesis that prenatal ethanol exposure affects dynamic changes in the numbers of VB neurons; such changes reflect the sum of cell proliferation and death. Neuronal number in the VB was determined during the first postnatal month in the offspring of pregnant Long-Evans rats fed an ethanol-containing diet or pair-fed an isocaloric non-alcoholic liquid diet. Offspring were examined between postnatal day (P) 1 and P30. The size of the VB and neuronal number were determined stereologically. Prenatal exposure to ethanol did not significantly alter neuronal number on any individual day, nor was the prenatal generation of VB neurons affected. Interestingly, prenatal ethanol exposure did affect the pattern of the change in neuronal number over time; total neuronal number was stable in the ethanol-treated pups after P12, but it continued to rise in the controls until P21. In addition, the rate of cell proliferation during the postnatal period was greater in ethanol-treated animals. Thus, the rate of neuronal acquisition is altered by ethanol, and by deduction, there appears to be less ethanol-induced neuronal loss in the VB. A contributor to these changes is a latent effect of ethanol on postnatal neurogenesis in the VB and the apparent survival of new neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Mooney
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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Maternal Oral Consumption of Morphine Increases Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio and Caspase 3 Activity During Early Neural System Development in Rat Embryos. J Mol Neurosci 2009; 41:156-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-009-9312-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2009] [Accepted: 11/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Cherian PP, Schenker S, Henderson GI. Ethanol-mediated DNA damage and PARP-1 apoptotic responses in cultured fetal cortical neurons. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2008; 32:1884-92. [PMID: 18717656 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00769.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies by many laboratories have illustrated that ethanol can elicit a cascade of caspase-dependent apoptotic events in cultured neurons. Studies in our laboratory have connected this to oxidative stress and effects on fetal cortical neuron glutathione homeostasis. AIMS The intent of the following studies is to address mechanisms underlying ethanol-associated DNA damage that may be connected to apoptotic death of neurons. METHODS Cultures of fetal rat cerebral cortical neurons were utilized. Estimates of DNA damage was determined by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and nuclear condensation; Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) expression was determined by immunostaining and Western blotting; and occurrence of parylation and AIF translocations were assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS Ethanol treatment of the neurons generated increases in DNA damage by 4 hours while nuclear condensation was low at the short exposure period but increased markedly by 24 hours. This was temporally related to a marked up-regulation of PARP-1 expression. Activity of PARP-1, as assessed by PolyADP-ribose (PAR) formation, occurred within 15 minutes and peaked by 6 to 8 hours of ethanol treatment. An almost complete translocation of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to the nucleus occurred by 24 hours of ethanol treatment (4.0 mg/ml). Ethanol treatment for 4, 12, and 24 hours elicited an increasing caspase-mediated cleavage of PARP-1 to its 24 kDa fragment. CONCLUSIONS These data illustrate the rapid occurrence of DNA damage following ethanol exposure and that PARP-1 pathways may play a role in the subsequent apoptotic death of these neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla P Cherian
- Department of Medicine, Division of GI/Nutrition, University of Texas Health Science Centre, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA
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Peroxiredoxin 2 is Involved in the Neuroprotective Effects of PACAP in Cultured Cerebellar Granule Neurons. J Mol Neurosci 2008; 36:61-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-008-9075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2008] [Accepted: 04/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Miranda RC, Santillano DR, Camarillo C, Dohrman D. Modeling the impact of alcohol on cortical development in a dish: strategies from mapping neural stem cell fate. Methods Mol Biol 2008; 447:151-68. [PMID: 18369918 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-242-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
During the second trimester period, neuroepithelial stem cells give birth to millions of new neuroblasts, which migrate away from their germinal zones to populate the developing brain and terminally differentiate into neurons. During this period, large numbers of cells are also eliminated by programmed cell death. Therefore, the second trimester constitutes an important critical period for neuronal proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. Substantial evidence indicates that teratogens like ethanol can interfere with neuronal maturation. However, there is a paucity of good model systems to study early, second trimester events. In vivo models are inherently interpretatively complex because cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and death mechanisms occur concurrently in regions like the cerebral cortex. This temporal overlap of multiple developmental critical periods makes it difficult to evaluate the relative vulnerability of any individual critical period. Our laboratory has elected to utilize fetal rodent cerebral cortical-derived neurosphere cultures as an experimental model of the second-trimester ventricular neuroepithelium. This model has enabled us to use flow cytometric approaches to identify neuroepithelial stem cell and progenitor sub-populations and to show that ethanol accelerates the maturation of neural stem cells. We have also developed a simplified mitogen-withdrawal/matrix-adhesion paradigm to model the exit of neuroepithelial cells from the ventricular zone towards the subventricular zone and cortical plate, and their maturation into multipolar neurons. We can treat neurosphere cultures with ethanol to mimic exposure during the period of neuroepithelial proliferation and by using the step-wise maturation model, ask questions about the impact of prior ethanol exposure on the subsequent maturation of neurons as they migrate and undergo terminal differentiation. The combination of neurosphere culture and stepwise maturation models will enable us to dissect out the contributions of specific developmental critical periods to the overall teratology of a drug of abuse like ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA
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Maffi SK, Rathinam ML, Cherian PP, Pate W, Hamby-Mason R, Schenker S, Henderson GI. Glutathione content as a potential mediator of the vulnerability of cultured fetal cortical neurons to ethanol-induced apoptosis. J Neurosci Res 2008; 86:1064-76. [PMID: 18058941 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.21562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol ingestion during pregnancy elicits damage to the developing brain, some of which appears to result from enhanced apoptotic death of neurons. A consistent characteristic of this phenomenon is a highly differing sensitivity to ethanol within specific neuron populations. One possible explanation for this "selective vulnerability" could be cellular variations in glutathione (GSH) homeostasis. Prior studies have illustrated that ethanol elicits apoptotic death of neurons in the developing brain, that oxidative stress may be an underlying mechanism, and that GSH can be neuroprotective. In the present study, both multiphoton microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrate a striking heterogeneity in GSH content within cortical neuron populations. Ethanol differentially elicits apoptotic death and oxidative stress in these neurons. When neuron GSH content is reduced by treatment with butathione sulfoxamine, the ethanol-mediated enhancement of reactive oxygen species is exacerbated. Sorting of cells into high- and low-GSH populations further exemplifies ethanol-mediated oxidative stress whereby apoptotic indices are preferentially elevated in the low-GSH population. Western blot analysis of the low-GSH subpopulations shows higher ethanol-mediated expression of active caspase 3 and 24-kDa PARP-1 fragments compared with the high-GSH subpopulation. In addition, neuronal content of 4-hydroxynonenal adducts is higher in low-GSH neurons in response to ethanol. These studies suggest that GSH content is an important predictor of neuronal sensitivity to ethanol-mediated oxidative stress and subsequent cell death. The data support the proposition that the differences in proapoptotic responses to ethanol within specific neuron populations reflect a heterogeneity of neuron GSH content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Kaushal Maffi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA.
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Wentzel P, Eriksson UJ. Genetic influence on dysmorphogenesis in embryos from different rat strains exposed to ethanol in vivo and in vitro. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2008; 32:874-87. [PMID: 18371156 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2008.00647.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim was to investigate the susceptibility of embryos from 2 rat strains (U and H) to a 48 hours ethanol exposure in early pregnancy, both in vivo and in vitro. METHODS The embryos were studied on gestational days 9 to 11. We used 1 ethanol dose in vivo (6 g/kg x 2), 3 different ethanol concentrations in vitro (88 mM, 132 mM, 176 mM) and also attempted to diminish the teratogenic effect in vitro by supplying the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 0.5 mM) to the culture medium. RESULTS The U embryos were more damaged by ethanol than the H embryos, both in vivo and in vitro. NAC addition diminished, but failed to completely normalize, the embryonic maldevelopment. Ethanol increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the U embryos both in vivo and in vitro, but not in the H embryos. Furthermore, ethanol caused increased Caspase-3 immunostaining in U embryos, but not in H embryos. Ethanol exposure in vivo did not alter CuZnSOD and MnSOD mRNA levels in U and H embryos. In vitro, however, the ethanol-exposed U embryos increased their CuZnSOD and MnSOD mRNA levels, whereas the CuZnSOD mRNA was unchanged and MnSOD mRNA decreased in the H embryos, in neither strain did NAC exert any effect. The U embryos increased catalase gene expression in response to ethanol in vivo, but decreased catalase mRNA levels in vitro, changes normalized by NAC. The H embryos did not alter catalase mRNA levels in vivo, but increased gene expression in vitro, with no NAC effect. Ethanol affected the gene expression of the other ROS scavenging enzymes and the developmental genes studied - Bmp-4, Ret, Shh, Pax-6 - similarly in the 2 strains. CONCLUSIONS The findings support a role for genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in ethanol teratogenicity, and suggest that the teratogenic predisposition of the more susceptible U rats may reside, at least in part, in the regulation of the ROS scavenging enzymes in the U embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parri Wentzel
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Collins LL, Williamson MA, Thompson BD, Dever DP, Gasiewicz TA, Opanashuk LA. 2,3,7,8-Tetracholorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure disrupts granule neuron precursor maturation in the developing mouse cerebellum. Toxicol Sci 2008; 103:125-36. [PMID: 18227101 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfn017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been linked to developmental neurotoxicity associated with abnormal cerebellar maturation in both humans and rodents. TCDD mediates toxicity via binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor that regulates the expression of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and growth regulatory molecules. Our previous studies demonstrated that cerebellar granule neuron precursor cells (GNPs) express transcriptionally active AhR during critical developmental periods. TCDD exposure also impaired GNP proliferation and survival in vitro. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that TCDD exposure disrupts cerebellar development by interfering with GNP differentiation. In vivo experiments indicated that TCDD exposure on postnatal day (PND) 6 resulted in increased expression of a mitotic marker and increased thickness of the external granule layer (EGL) on PND10. Expression of the early differentiation marker TAG-1 was also more pronounced in postmitotic, premigratory granule neurons of the EGL, and increased apoptosis of GNPs was observed. On PND21, expression of the late GNP differentiation marker GABA(A alpha 6) receptor (GABAR(A alpha 6)) and total estimated cell numbers were both reduced following exposure on PND6. Studies in unexposed adult AhR(-/-) mice revealed lower GABAR(A alpha 6) levels and DNA content. In vitro studies showed elevated expression of the early differentiation marker p27/Kip1 and the GABAR(A alpha 6) in GNPs following TCDD exposure, and the expression patterns of proteins related to granule cell neurite outgrowth, beta III-tubulin and polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule, were consistent with enhanced neuroblast differentiation. Together, our data suggest that TCDD disrupts a normal physiological role of AhR, resulting in compromised GNP maturation and neuroblast survival, which impacts final cell number in the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretta L Collins
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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Effects of alcohol exposure during development on play behavior and c-Fos expression in response to play behavior. Behav Brain Res 2007; 188:209-18. [PMID: 18160143 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2007.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2007] [Revised: 10/08/2007] [Accepted: 10/29/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Developmental exposure to alcohol can produce characteristic physiological and cognitive deficits, often termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). More recently, social deficits have been shown to occur both in FASD and animal models of FASD; the behavioral and neural bases of these deficits remain to be determined. It was hypothesized that changes in sensory processing may in part underlie the social deficits seen in FASD. This study used a rat model of FASD and social play, a behavior critical to adult social functioning, to begin to examine this hypothesis. Somatosensory cues from dorsal contact to the nape of the neck, critical to the initiation of pinning, were systematically degraded by administration of different doses of xylocaine, a topical anesthetic. Neuronal activity after 1h of play was assessed by measurement of c-Fos immunoreactivity (IR) in different brain regions. Ethanol-exposed rats showed an increased frequency of pinning during social play and were more sensitive to the degradation of somatosensory cues compared to the control groups, suggesting difficulties in processing somatosensory cues. Neuronal activity in the somatosensory cortex induced by play was significantly decreased in the ethanol-exposed group compared to the non-treated group. The c-Fos IR in the nucleus accumbens was altered in a sexually dimorphic manner in the ethanol-exposed group. Thus, the behavioral and brain measures are consistent with the hypothesis that ethanol exposure during development induces alterations in social play via deficits in processing somatosensory cues that are important to social play.
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Camarillo C, Kumar LS, Bake S, Sohrabji F, Miranda RC. Ethanol regulates angiogenic cytokines during neural development: evidence from an in vitro model of mitogen-withdrawal-induced cerebral cortical neuroepithelial differentiation. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007; 31:324-35. [PMID: 17250626 PMCID: PMC2909106 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause significant mental retardation and brain damage. We recently showed that ethanol depletes reserve cerebral cortical stem cell capacity. Moreover, proliferating neuroepithelial cells exposed to ethanol were resistant to subsequent retinoic acid-induced differentiation. Emerging evidence suggests that cytokines play a crucial growth-promoting role in the developing neural tube. METHODS We cultured murine cortical neurosphere cultures in control or ethanol-supplemented mitogenic medium, to mimic alcohol exposure during the period of neuroepithelial proliferation. Cultures were then treated with a step-wise mitogen-withdrawal, integrin-activation model to mimic subsequent phases of neuronal migration and early differentiation. We examined the impact of alcohol exposure during neurogenesis on the secretion of inflammatory and growth-promoting cytokines. RESULTS Cortical neurosphere cultures exhibit increasingly complex differentiation phenotypes in response to step-wise mitogen-withdrawal and laminin exposure. Some inflammation-modulating cytokines were secreted independent of differentiation state. However, chemotactic cytokines were specifically secreted at high levels, as a function of differentiation stage. monocyte chemotactic protein-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and interleukin (IL)-10 were coordinately decreased during differentiation compared with neuroepithelial proliferation, while granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was induced during differentiation, compared with the neuroepithelial proliferation period. Ethanol exposure during the period of neuroepithelial proliferation prevented the early differentiation-induced increase in GM-CSF while inducing differentiation-associated increase in IL-12 secretion. CONCLUSION Embryonic cerebral cortical neuroepithelial-derived precursors secrete high levels of several angiogenic and neural-growth-promoting cytokines as they differentiate into neurons. Our data collectively suggest that ethanol exposure during the period of neuroepithelial proliferation significantly disrupts cytokine signals that are required for the support of emerging neurovascular networks, and the maintenance of neural stem cell beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Camarillo
- Texas A&M Health Science Ctr., College of Medicine, Dept. Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, 228 Reynolds Medical Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-1114
| | - Leena S Kumar
- Texas A&M Health Science Ctr., College of Medicine, Dept. Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, 228 Reynolds Medical Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-1114
| | - Shameena Bake
- Texas A&M Health Science Ctr., College of Medicine, Dept. Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, 228 Reynolds Medical Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-1114
| | - Farida Sohrabji
- Texas A&M Health Science Ctr., College of Medicine, Dept. Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, 228 Reynolds Medical Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-1114
- Center for Environmental and Rural Health, Texas A&M University
| | - Rajesh C. Miranda
- Texas A&M Health Science Ctr., College of Medicine, Dept. Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, 228 Reynolds Medical Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-1114
- Center for Environmental and Rural Health, Texas A&M University
- Corresponding author:
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Time-specific effects of ethanol exposure on cranial nerve nuclei: gastrulation and neuronogenesis. Exp Neurol 2007; 205:56-63. [PMID: 17320867 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2006] [Revised: 01/12/2007] [Accepted: 01/13/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
During the development of the central nervous system, neurons pass through critical periods or periods of vulnerability. We explored periods of vulnerability for cranial nerve nuclei by determining the effects of acute exposure to ethanol during development on the number of neurons in mature brainstem. Long-Evans rats were injected with 2.9 g ethanol/kg body weight on one day between gestational day (G) 7 and G13, inclusive. Two hours later, animals received a second injection of 1.45 g/kg. Controls were injected with equivalent volumes of saline. Brainstems of 31-day-old offspring were cryosectioned and stained with cresyl violet. Stereological methods were used to determine the volume and numerical density of neurons in three trigeminal sensory nuclei (the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, and the oral and interpolar subnuclei of the spinal trigeminal nuclear complex) and three motor nuclei (the trigeminal, facial, and hypoglossal nuclei). The numbers of neurons in most nuclei were lower following early (on G7 and/or G8) or later (on G12 and/or G13) exposure. Only the trigeminal interpolar nucleus was affected by neither early nor late ethanol exposure. Thus, prenatal exposure to ethanol affects the number of neurons in brainstem nuclei in a time-dependent manner. Windows of vulnerability coincide with gastrulation (G7/G8) and the period of neuronal generation (G12/G13).
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Bruns MB, Miller MW. THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED: Functional nerve growth factor and trkA autocrine/paracrine circuits in adult rat cortex are revealed by episodic ethanol exposure and withdrawal. J Neurochem 2006; 100:1155-68. [PMID: 17316397 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04301.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The hypothesis tested is that cortical neurotrophins communicate through an inducible autocrine/paracrine mechanism. As ethanol (Et) can induce cortical nerve growth factor (NGF) expression, adult rats were challenged with Et on three consecutive days per week for 6 weeks. The focus of the study was layer V, the chief repository of receptor-expressing neuronal cell bodies. Brains were collected immediately after the sixth Et exposure or 72 h later [i.e., following withdrawal (WD)]. Double-label in situ hybridization-immunohistochemistry studies showed that many neuronal somata co-expressed NGF mRNA with NGF, trkA, or phosphorylated trk (p-trk), essential components of an inducible autocrine system. The frequencies of co-labeling were affected by neither Et nor WD. On the contrary, Et increased the number of NGF mRNA-expressing neurons and the amount of NGF mRNA expressed per cell. Et also increased total cortical concentration of NGF protein, the number of layer V neurons expressing trkA transcript, the amount of trkA mRNA expressed per neuron, and trkA phosphorylation. Following WD, the frequency of NGF-mRNA-expressing cells increased, although transcript and protein content fell. WD induced an increase in trkA mRNA and protein expression, however, p-trk expression was unaffected. Thus, Et treatment reveals that layer V has inducible autocrine/paracrine and anterograde neurotrophin systems. WD unveils the dynamism and recruitability of these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marla B Bruns
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York-Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous work from this laboratory showed that prenatal alcohol exposure at approximately 100 mg/dl from embryonic day (E)7 to early midgestation reduced the number and retarded the migration of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the raphe nuclei in C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we report that the deficit of 5-HT neurons found in midgestation persisted on E18 and into young adulthood. METHODS Pregnant dams were treated from E7 to E18 in three groups--(1) the alcohol group, fed with liquid diet with 25% ethanol-derived calories; (2) the isocaloric pair-fed group; and (3) the chow group for analysis of concentrations of active caspase-3--to study apoptosis at E18 in the brainstem and the number of 5-HT neurons at E18 and postnatal day 45. The concentrations of active caspase-3 were determined by using a colorimetric assay, and the 5-HT neurons were determined by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Prenatal alcohol exposure increased the concentration of active caspase-3 in the brainstem and caused reductions in brain weight by 20% and in the total number of 5-HT-immunostaining neurons in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei by 20% at E18 as compared with those of the pair-fed and chow controls. Continuous observation from prenatal to postnatal stages showed that the reduction of 5-HT-immunostaining neurons in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei persisted in the young adult stage. CONCLUSIONS Upon prenatal alcohol exposure, an increased concentration of active caspase-3 and a decreased number of 5-HT-immunostaining neurons in the brainstem were observed at E18. The decreased number of 5-HT neurons persisted to the young adult stage of postnatal day 45. This suggests that ethanol has a long-lasting effect on 5-HT deficit. A fetal alcohol exposure-rendered lasting deficit of 5-HT and other transmitter systems may underlie the neuropsychiatric deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Sari
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA
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Siegenthaler JA, Miller MW. Transforming growth factor beta 1 promotes cell cycle exit through the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in the developing cerebral cortex. J Neurosci 2006; 25:8627-36. [PMID: 16177030 PMCID: PMC6725510 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1876-05.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During cortical neurogenesis, cell proliferation and cell cycle exit are carefully regulated to ensure that the appropriate numbers of cells are produced. The antiproliferative agent transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and its receptors are endogenously expressed in proliferative zones of the developing cerebral cortex, thus implicating the growth factor in cell cycle regulation. The present study tested the hypothesis that TGFbeta1 promotes cell cycle exit in the cortical ventricular zone (VZ) through modulation of cell cycle protein expression, in particular cyclin D1 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p21. Although it did not affect the length of the cell cycle, TGFbeta1 decreased the fraction of VZ-cycling cells by 21% and increased the number of VZ cells exiting the cell cycle a commensurate 24%. TGFbeta1 selectively increased the expression of p21 in the VZ. In addition, high p21 expression levels were observed in VZ cells as they exited the cell cycle, and TGFbeta1 increased the number p21-positive cells exiting the cell cycle. Collectively, these data show the following: (1) TGFbeta1 promotes cell cycle exit, (2) p21 upregulation is correlated with cell cycle exit, and (3) TGFbeta1-induced cell cycle exit is mediated by p21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Siegenthaler
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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Taranukhin AG, Yamova LA, Chernigovskaya EV. Participation of catecholamines and NO in regulation of apoptosis of nonapeptidergic neurons of neonatal rat pups. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2006. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093006020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Sari Y, Gozes I. Brain deficits associated with fetal alcohol exposure may be protected, in part, by peptides derived from activity-dependent neurotrophic factor and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 52:107-18. [PMID: 16488478 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2006.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2005] [Revised: 12/20/2005] [Accepted: 01/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This review discusses the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain and the potential use of derived peptides from activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) in neuroprotection against the insults of alcohol. Alcohol is known to impede the growth of the central nervous system and to induce neurodegeneration through cellular apoptosis. Sari et al. have shown that prenatal alcohol exposure reduced the fetal brain weight, the size of the brain regions and the number of serotonin (5-HT) neurons. Prenatal alcohol exposure compromises neural tube midline development. Sari et al. further suggested that the timing of alcohol exposure during pregnancy is critical to the induction of deficits in 5-HT neurons, as well as other types of neurons and consequently results in deficits in neural tube development. ADNF and ADNP are glial-derived proteins discovered to be induced by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These proteins are expressed during embryonic development. Functional assays and genetic manipulations have identified these proteins as highly important for neural tube closure and brain formation/development. The peptide derivatives of ADNF, ADNF-14 (VLGGGSALLRSIPA), ADNF-9 (or SALLRSIPA = SAL) and of ADNP, NAPVSIPQ = NAP have shown neuroprotective effects and have been proven to prevent brain damage associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in animals. Here, we discuss the many aspects of alcohol-associated growth restriction in the developing brain and the potential inhibition of this severe phenotype through the use of neuroprotective peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Sari
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Neuroscience Programs, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS5035, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Miller MW. Ruminations of a Jersey boy: Ferdinand under the cork tree. 2005 Henry L. Rosett Award. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2006; 30:180-4. [PMID: 16441266 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00021.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Miller
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
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Schor NF. The p75 neurotrophin receptor in human development and disease. Prog Neurobiol 2005; 77:201-14. [PMID: 16297524 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2005.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2004] [Revised: 10/19/2005] [Accepted: 10/21/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The functional effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its precursor, pro-NGF, are thought to be mediated through binding of these ligands to one or both of their receptors, TrkA and p75NTR. While the signaling pathways and downstream effects of NGF binding to TrkA are reasonably well known, those related to the binding of NGF and pro-NGF to p75NTR are less well understood. Furthermore, p75NTR appears to play functional roles that are unrelated to its ability to bind NGF and pro-NGF, some of which are ligand-independent and others of which are dependent upon binding to other neurotrophins. As these functional roles and their biochemical mechanisms become better known, the importance of p75NTR, related receptors, and both extracellular ligands and intracellular interactors and effectors for human development and health has become increasingly apparent. A complete understanding of p75NTR and its cellular partners is best served by approaching the remaining questions from both sides, with studies of function in normal states and studies of dysfunction in aberrant states mutually informing one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Felice Schor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Bashir M, Javed MT. Effects of ethanol on brain and pancreas weights, serum sodium and potassium, and haematological parameters in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Avian Pathol 2005; 34:96-100. [PMID: 16191688 DOI: 10.1080/03079450500059222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Poultry farmers in Pakistan use ethanol for treatment of respiratory diseases and as a growth promotant, but the effects on health and production of broilers are unknown. The effects of ethanol were investigated in quail at different doses through drinking water. One hundred and twenty Japanese quail of 39 days of age were purchased from a local market. They were divided randomly into five groups of 24 (groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and offered ethanol at dose rates 2%, 4%, 8% and 16%, respectively, while group 5 served as control. Quail offered 8% and 16% ethanol showed dullness, depression and staggering gait, while those given 2% and 4% ethanol showed decreased responsiveness for 2 to 3 h. The live weight, brain volume along with serum sodium and potassium decreased significantly (P<0.05) in all treated groups, while there was significant (P<0.05) increase in relative weight of the pancreas. The decrease in live weight varied from 3% to 35% in a dose-related manner. The brain weight decreased by 4% to 10% and the decrease was dose dependent. Brain volume showed a 25% to 51% decrease. The haematological parameters erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration increased significantly (P<0.05), while the leukocyte count increases were not significant. Both serum sodium and potassium decreased in ethanol-treated groups (36% to 44% and 44% to 49%, respectively), almost in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that ethanol at these dose levels has significant deleterious effects on haematology, brain volume and serum electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manshad Bashir
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Santillano DR, Kumar LS, Prock TL, Camarillo C, Tingling JD, Miranda RC. Ethanol induces cell-cycle activity and reduces stem cell diversity to alter both regenerative capacity and differentiation potential of cerebral cortical neuroepithelial precursors. BMC Neurosci 2005; 6:59. [PMID: 16159388 PMCID: PMC1249578 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-6-59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2005] [Accepted: 09/13/2005] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The fetal cortical neuroepithelium is a mosaic of distinct progenitor populations that elaborate diverse cellular fates. Ethanol induces apoptosis and interferes with the survival of differentiating neurons. However, we know little about ethanol's effects on neuronal progenitors. We therefore exposed neurosphere cultures from fetal rat cerebral cortex, to varying ethanol concentrations, to examine the impact of ethanol on stem cell fate. Results Ethanol promoted cell cycle progression, increased neurosphere number and increased diversity in neurosphere size, without inducing apoptosis. Unlike controls, dissociated cortical progenitors exposed to ethanol exhibited morphological evidence for asymmetric cell division, and cells derived from ethanol pre-treated neurospheres exhibited decreased proliferation capacity. Ethanol significantly reduced the numbers of cells expressing the stem cell markers CD117, CD133, Sca-1 and ABCG2, without decreasing nestin expression. Furthermore, ethanol-induced neurosphere proliferation was not accompanied by a commensurate increase in telomerase activity. Finally, cells derived from ethanol-pretreated neurospheres exhibited decreased differentiation in response to retinoic acid. Conclusion The reduction in stem cell number along with a transient ethanol-driven increase in cell proliferation, suggests that ethanol promotes stem to blast cell maturation, ultimately depleting the reserve proliferation capacity of neuroepithelial cells. However, the lack of a concomitant change in telomerase activity suggests that neuroepithelial maturation is accompanied by an increased potential for genomic instability. Finally, the cellular phenotype that emerges from ethanol pre-treated, stem cell depleted neurospheres is refractory to additional differentiation stimuli, suggesting that ethanol exposure ablates or delays subsequent neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Santillano
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Leena S Kumar
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Terasa L Prock
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia Camarillo
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Joseph D Tingling
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Human Anatomy & Medical Neurobiology, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Centre for Environmental and Rural Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Hajnóczky G, Buzas CJ, Pacher P, Hoek JB, Rubin E. Alcohol and mitochondria in cardiac apoptosis: mechanisms and visualization. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2005; 29:693-701. [PMID: 15897712 DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000163493.45344.7a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis of myocytes is likely to contribute to a variety of heart conditions and could also be important in the development of alcoholic heart disease. A fundamental pathway to apoptosis is through mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and release of proapoptotic factors from the mitochondrial intermembrane space to the cytosol. The authors' results show that prolonged exposure of cultured cardiac cells to ethanol (35 mM for 48 hr) promotes Ca2+-induced activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). PTP-dependent mitochondrial membrane permeabilization is followed by release of cytochrome c and execution of apoptosis. The authors propose that chronic ethanol exposure, in combination with other stress signals, may allow for activation of the PTP by physiological calcium oscillations, providing a trigger for cardiac apoptosis during chronic alcohol abuse. Coincidence of apoptosis promoting factors occurs in only a small fraction of myocytes, but because of the absence of regeneration, even a modest increase in the rate of cell death may contribute to a decrease in cardiac contractility. Detection of apoptotic changes that are present in only a few myocytes at a certain time in the heart is not feasible with most of the apoptotic assays. Fluorescence imaging is a powerful technology to visualize changes that are confined to a minor fraction of cells in a tissue, and the use of multiphoton excitation permits imaging in situ deep in the wall of the intact heart. This article discusses potential mechanisms of the effect of alcohol on mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and visualization of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in cardiac muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- György Hajnóczky
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
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Mooney SM, Napper RMA. Early postnatal exposure to alcohol reduces the number of neurons in the occipital but not the parietal cortex of the rat. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2005; 29:683-91. [PMID: 15834235 DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000158936.40150.5a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rat brain undergoes a period of rapid growth in the early postnatal period. During this time, the neocortex seems to be vulnerable to ethanol injury. Subdivisions of the neocortex develop in a temporospatial gradient that is likely to determine their vulnerability to ethanol-induced damage and whether damage is permanent. Therefore, the authors investigated the effect of postnatal ethanol exposure on the neocortex and specific subregions at the cessation of exposure and in the mature brain. METHODS Four-day-old rat pups with intragastric cannulae were artificially reared from postnatal day (PN) 4 through PN9. Of 12 daily feeds, two consecutive feeds contained either ethanol (4.5 g/kg) or an isocaloric maltose/dextrin solution. On PN10 or PN115, animals were perfused intracardially, and the brains were removed. Stereological methods were used to determine the total number of neurons and glial cells in, and the volume of, the neocortex, the parietal cortex, and the occipital cortex. RESULTS Exposure to ethanol did not affect body or brain weight at PN10. In contrast, at PN115 forebrain weight was significantly lower in ethanol-exposed animals compared with control-treated animals. There was no effect of treatment on body weight at PN115. On PN10, neocortical volume was 15% smaller in the ethanol-exposed animals compared with controls, with no change in the total number of neurons or glial cells. Occipital cortical volume was reduced by 22% in the ethanol-exposed animals, with a significant deficit in the total number of neurons (ethanol-exposed, 2.62 x 10; gastrostomy control, 3.20 x 10). There was no effect of ethanol exposure on the total number of glial cells in the occipital cortex or on any parameter in the parietal cortex. There was also no significant effect of ethanol exposure on the occipital cortex on PN115. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide support for the hypothesis that a specific area or cell population might be differentially vulnerable to ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt and that cell deficits evident on PN10 may not be permanent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Mooney
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
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Watts LT, Rathinam ML, Schenker S, Henderson GI. Astrocytes protect neurons from ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic death. J Neurosci Res 2005; 80:655-66. [PMID: 15880562 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.20502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol induces oxidative stress in cultured fetal rat cortical neurons and this is followed by apoptotic death, which can be prevented by normalization of cell content of reduced glutathione (GSH). Because astrocytes can play a central role in maintenance of neuron GSH homeostasis, the following experiments utilized cocultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes and fetal cortical neurons to determine if astrocytes could protect neurons from ethanol-mediated apoptotic death via this mechanism. In cortical neurons cultured in the absence of astrocytes, ethanol (2.5 and 4 mg/ml; 6-, 12-, and 24-hr exposures) decreased trypan blue exclusion and the MTT viability measures by up to 45% (P < 0.05), increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by up to 81% (P < 0.05), and decreased GSH within 1 hr of treatment by 49 and 51% for 2.5 and 4 mg/ml, respectively (P < 0.05). This was followed by onset of apoptotic cell death as determined by increased Annexin V binding and DNA fragmentation by 12 hr of ethanol exposure. Coculturing neurons with astrocytes prevented GSH depletion by 2.5 mg/ml ethanol, whereas GSH content was increased over controls in neurons exposed to 4 mg/ml ethanol (by up to 341%; P < 0.05). Ethanol generated increases in neuron ROS and apoptosis; decreases in viability were also prevented by coculture. Astrocytes were largely insensitive to ethanol, using the same measures. Only exposure to 4.0 mg/ml ethanol decreased GSH content in astrocytes, concomitant with a 204% increase in GSH efflux (P < 0.05). These studies illustrate that astrocytes can protect neurons from ethanol-mediated apoptotic death and that this may be related to maintenance of neuron GSH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora Talley Watts
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Gohlke JM, Griffith WC, Faustman EM. A Systems-Based Computational Model for Dose-Response Comparisons of Two Mode of Action Hypotheses for Ethanol-Induced Neurodevelopmental Toxicity. Toxicol Sci 2005; 86:470-84. [PMID: 15917484 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfi209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations into the potential mechanisms for ethanol-induced developmental toxicity have been ongoing for over 30 years since Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) was first described. Neurodevelopmental endpoints are particularly sensitive to in utero exposure to alcohol as suggested by the more prevalent alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). The inhibition of proliferation during neurogenesis and the induction of apoptosis during the period of synaptogenesis have been identified as potentially important mechanisms for ARND. However, it is unclear how these two mechanisms quantitatively relate to the dose and timing of exposure. We have extended our model of neocortical neurogenesis to evaluate apoptosis during synaptogenesis. This model construct allows quantitative evaluation of the relative impacts on neuronal proliferation versus apoptosis during neocortical development. Ethanol-induced lengthening of the cell cycle of neural progenitor cells during rat neocortical neurogenesis (G13-G19) is used to compute the number of neurons lost after exposure during neurogenesis. Ethanol-induced dose-dependent increases in cell death rates are applied to our apoptosis model during rat synaptogenesis (P0-P14), when programmed cell death plays a major role in shaping the future neocortex. At a human blood ethanol concentration that occurs after 3-5 drinks ( approximately 150 mg/dl), our model predicts a 20-30% neuronal deficit due to inhibition of proliferation during neurogenesis, while a similar exposure during synaptogenesis suggests a 7-9% neuronal loss through induction of cell death. Experimental in vitro and in vivo dose-response research and stereological research on long-term neuronal loss after developmental exposure to ethanol is compared to our model predictions. Our computational model allows for quantitative, systems-level comparisons of mechanistic hypotheses for perturbations during specific neurodevelopmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Gohlke
- Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
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