NGF level in the rat sciatic nerve is decreased after long-term consumption of ethanol.
Long-term effects of ethanol consumption on endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) level were investigated in NGF-producing target organs and tissues of the peripheral nervous system. Rats were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for 9 months, detoxified for an additional 2 weeks and kept without ethanol for an additional month prior to sacrifice. NGF level in the NGF-producing target tissues such as iris and submandibular gland and in the trigeminal ganglion and superior cervical ganglion, where NGF-responsive perikarya are located, did not differ significantly from corresponding controls. In contrast, NGF level in the sciatic nerve was significantly reduced by 54%. This indicates that long-term ethanol consumption affects retrograde axonal transport of the neurotrophic factor NGF, suggesting that NGF deficiency may be part of the pathophysiology of peripheral neuropathy due to chronic alcoholism.
Hellweg
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Baethge
C
C
Hartung
H D
HD
Brückner
M K
MK
Arendt
T
T
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000431:Ethanol