title: Quantitative immunocytochemistry of glia in the cerebellar cortex of old ethanol-fed rats.
abstract: It is clear from results of studies in this laboratory that chronic ethanol consumption causes regression of the extensive Purkinje neuron (PN) dendritic arbor. There are, however, a paucity of studies on the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on glia cells that reside in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex with PN dendrites. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility that chronic ethanol consumption in old F344 rats results in gliosis within the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. Ten 12-month-old, male, F344 rats received a liquid diet containing 35% ethanol for 40 weeks. Pair-fed controls (n=10) received a liquid diet in which maltose dextrins were substituted for ethanol. Chow-fed rats (n=10) served as controls for age. At the end of the treatment period, rats were euthanized and perfused through the aorta, and cerebella were prepared for immunocytochemistry. Free floating sections were stained with (1) glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody for labeling of Bergmann glial cells and fibers, (2) OX-42 antibody for labeling of microglia, and (3) 0.5% cresyl violet for estimates of molecular layer volume. Results indicate that the densities of Bergmann glial cell processes and microglia within the cerebellar molecular layer are not altered by ethanol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 317 Farber Hall, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA. cadlugos@acsu.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dlugos
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pentney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C091848:GRF1 protein, Zea mays; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000431:Ethanol