Ethanol inhibition of brain ornithine decarboxylase activity in the postnatal rat.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC; a marker for perturbed cell development), the blood alcohol level, and alcohol-induced microencephaly in the developing rat brain after binge treatment with ethanol vapour. By manipulating ethanol flow we were able to adjust vapour concentrations (24-65 mg ethanol/l air) such that an acute exposure of ethanol vapour for 3 h resulted in a range of blood alcohol levels (2.3-5.5 mg/ml). Acute studies showed that ethanol dose-dependently inhibited rat hippocampal and cerebellar ODC activity at PND4-PND10. There was a significant correlation between the blood alcohol level and degree of inhibition at all ages tested. Chronic treatment from PND4 to PND9 caused a significant decrease in both brain to body weight ratio and in hippocampal and cerebellar ODC activities at PND10. These results indicate that ethanol-induced disruption in ODC could play a significant role in ethanol's teratogenic effects during early postnatal development.
Davidson
M
M
Department of Biochemistry, The University of Queensland, Australia. davidson@biosci.uq.edu.au
Bedi
K
K
Wilce
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D051381:Rats
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D000431:Ethanol