title: Ethanol inhibits NMDA-stimulated neurite growth by sensory neurons in vitro.
abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) produced dose dependent neurite growth from 8 day chick embryo sensory neurons in-vitro on a laminin substrate. NMDA-stimulated neurite growth was blocked by the competitive antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), by an antagonist of the glycine modulatory site kynurenate, and by the NMDA ion channel antagonist Mg2+. Ethanol blocked the NMDA-mediated neurotrophic effect in a manner that was additive with the effects of Mg2+, but non-additive with the inhibitory influences of APV and kynurenate. Thus the influences of ethanol were mediated at the NMDA receptor/modulatory site. These observations have implications for the understanding of adverse influences of ethanol on neuronal development and connectivity and on activity-dependent enduring changes in synaptic changes in synaptic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Queens University, Apps Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dow
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Riopelle
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D007736:Kynurenic Acid; D008274:Magnesium; D005998:Glycine