Alcohol and nicotine reduce cell proliferation and enhance apoptosis in dentate gyrus.
It is generally accepted that alcohol and nicotine affect learning ability and memory functions, especially in adolescents. In the present study, the effects of alcohol and nicotine on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the dentate gyrus of young rats were investigated. The results show that cell proliferation is suppressed by alcohol and nicotine. Furthermore, alcohol and nicotine increase the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. Based on the results presented in this study, it can be suggested that alcohol- and nicotine-related impairment in learning and memory functions may be due to alcohol- and nicotine-induced suppression of new cell formation and acceleration of apoptosis, especially during adolescence.
Jang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoigi-dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 130-701.
Shin
Min-Chul
MC
Jung
Sae-Bin
SB
Lee
Taeck-Hyun
TH
Bahn
Geon-Ho
GH
Kwon
Yunhee Kim
YK
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000963:Antimetabolites; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D000431:Ethanol; D009538:Nicotine; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine