Ethanol induces GAD67 and VGAT in slice cultures of newborn rat cerebral cortex.
Exposure of the developing brain to ethanol disposes to the fetal alcohol syndrome, causing changes in the neurotransmitter systems of glutamate and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). However, expression of genes involved in GABA synthesis, vesicular and transmembrane transport has not been investigated so far. We exposed organotypic slice cultures of newborn rat cerebral cortex to ethanol (100 mM) for 4 days and observed a significant induction of the enzyme producing GABA (GAD67, +21%) and the vesicular transporter VGAT (+112%), whereas the expression of the transmembrane transporters did not differ from control conditions. In summary, ethanol exposure of the developing cortex induces GABAergic genes, which might facilitate the excitatory functions of GABA during development.
Zink
Mathias
M
Department of Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. zink@kv.zi-mannheim.de
Spanagel
Rainer
R
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050495:Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D007527:Isoenzymes; C118623:Slc32a1 protein, rat; D050495:Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D000431:Ethanol; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1