title: Microencephaly and selective decreases in cerebellar Purkinje cell numbers following combined exposure to ethanol and methadone during rat brain development.
abstract: This study evaluated the neuroanatomical effects of combined ethanol and methadone exposure on cerebellar development. Ethanol, methadone or a combination of both drugs was delivered twice daily to rat pups using intra-gastric intubation from postnatal day 6 (PN6) to PN10 inclusive. The intubated control group (IK) received equal volumes of isocaloric vehicle. Purkinje cell numbers in cerebellar lobules I-X were quantified from midsagittal sections of the cerebellar vermis at PN11. Deficits of 15-23% in body, total brain, cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem weights were exhibited for the ethanol/methadone-treated (IEM) group compared to IK. Purkinje cell deficits resulting from IEM treatment were found in lobules VI through X compared to IK with significant decreases of 31 and 23%, respectively, for lobules VIII and X. In contrast, neither ethanol nor methadone exposures under these treatment conditions caused cerebellar deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Serbus
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Light
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D009294:Narcotics; D000431:Ethanol; D008691:Methadone