title: Low concentrations of ethanol deplete type-2 astrocytes of intracellular free magnesium.
abstract: The acute effects of low concentrations of ethanol on intracellular free magnesium ions ([Mg2+]i) in cultured type-2 astrocytes were studied by digital imaging microscopy using the Mg2+ fluorescent probe, mag-fura-2. In 0-mM ethanol, the basal level of [Mg+]i was 124.7+/-2.56 microM with a heterogeneous distribution within the cells. Treatment of the cells with 10 and 25 mM ethanol (10 min) resulted in rapid concentration-dependent reduction in [Mg2+]i; the greater the concentration of alcohol, the greater the depletion of [Mg2+]i. Exposure of cells to 10 and 25 mM resulted in approximately 27 and 50% reductions in [Mg2+]i, respectively. Reincubation in normal Mg2+-physiological buffer solution restored [Mg2+]i levels. These observations may suggest that acute "binge drinking" of ethanol, which often results in cerebral ischemia and stroke, may do so as a result of depletion of astrocytic [Mg2+]i, possibly producing disruption of the blood-brain barrier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, 11203, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Altura
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Altura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D008274:Magnesium