Changes of bcl-2 and bax mRNA expressions in the ethanol-treated mouse brain.
To characterize the biochemical mechanism of cell death induced by ethanol intoxication, we examined expression of mRNAs of bcl-2 and bax genes in the brain, which are related to apoptosis, by using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR). According to ethanol administrations, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA in the cerebral cortex decreased after 1 day and be recovered after 3 days. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA in the cerebellum was not changed soon after 1 day and increased after 3 days. The expression of bax mRNA in the cerebral cortex decreased after 1 day and be recovered after 3 days. The expression of bax mRNA in the cerebellum increased after 1 day and after 3 days. We found that bcl-2 or bax mRNA expressions in the brain were changed after short-term ethanol exposure. These results suggest that bcl-2 or bax may have functional significance about ethanol intoxication.
Inoue
Masashi
M
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Nakamura
Kazuhiko
K
Iwahashi
Kazuhiko
K
Ameno
Kiyoshi
K
Itoh
Masahiro
M
Suwaki
Hiroshi
H
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein