Effects of neonatal ethanol exposure on cholinergic neurons of the rat medial septum.
The objective of this study was to determine the long-term effects of neonatal ethanol exposure on the cholinergic neurons in the medial septum (MS) of the rat. On postnatal day 4 (P4) pups were assigned to one of three groups: an ethanol-receiving, gastrostomized group (EtOH); a pair-fed, gastrostomized control group (GC); and a dam-reared suckle control group (SC). Gastrostomized pups were infused with ethanol-containing or control diet as a 9.1% v/v solution for two feedings on each day from P4 to P10. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunocytochemistry was analyzed at P60. Ethanol treatment resulted in long-lasting microencephaly in P60 EtOH animals. Ethanol exposure did not directly reduce ChAT-expressing (ChAT+) neuronal number, nor were changes noted in MS volume, mean area/section, or cell density as a result of ethanol treatment. Ethanol exposure reduced ChAT+ neuronal size in EtOH males compared with GC males but not SC males. No differences in ChAT+ neuronal size were noted in females. Thus, neonatal ethanol exposure, whereas producing long-lived microencephaly, has little effect on the cholinergic neurons of the adult rat MS.
Moore
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Center for Alcohol Research, Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, University of Florida Brain Institute, Gainesville 32610, USA. moore@ufbi.ufl.edu
Lee
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Paiva
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Walker
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Heaton
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MB
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D000431:Ethanol; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase