Differential effects of ethanol ingestion on somatostatin content, somatostatin receptors and adenylyl cyclase activity in the frontoparietal cortex of virgin and parturient rats.
Chronic ethanol ingestion decreases the number of somatostatin (SRIF) receptors in the rat frontoparietal cortex and female sex hormones modulate the effects of ethanol in the brain. Therefore, we investigated the differential effects of ethanol consumption on the SRIFergic system in the frontoparietal cortex of virgin and parturient rats given ethanol in their drinking water before and during gestation. In parturient rats, ethanol consumption decreased the density of SRIF receptors (25%, p<0.01 vs control parturient group) whereas the SRIF-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI) content was increased (140%, p<0.01). In virgin rats, ethanol ingestion decreased the density of SRIF receptors (42%, p<0.01) more than in alcoholic parturient rats. SRIF-LI levels were unaffected. The inhibitory effect of SRIF on basal and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase was significantly lower in alcoholic virgin rats as compared to alcoholic parturient rats. No differences in the levels of the G inhibitory (Gi) alpha1 and Gialpha2 proteins were observed among the experimental groups. These results suggest that gestation may confer partial resistance to the ethanol-induced effect on the SRIFergic system.
Research Laboratory, Universidad Autónoma, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Avda. Menéndez Pelayo, 65; 28009 Madrid, Spain. vbarrios@telefonica.net
Vicente
V
Barrios
Lilian
L
Puebla-Jiménez
María
M
del Carmen Boyano-Adánez
Manuel
M
Sanz
Leandro
L
Soriano-Guillén
Eduardo
E
Arilla-Ferreiro
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D002149:Energy Intake; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D005576:Colforsin; D000431:Ethanol; D013004:Somatostatin; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases