[Optic neuropathy induced by prenatal drug or alcohol exposure].
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this work was to analyse the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in retinal and optic nerve development, and the consequences of methamphetamine "ice" (MA) or alcohol (EtOH) abuse during pregnancy on the developing visual system.


METHODS
Wistar rats were exposed to MA or EtOH during gestation and lactation and their offspring studied. Control isocaloric rats were maintained in parallel. The eyes and optic nerves from pups (at 7, 14 and 21 postnatal days) were processed using morphologic, morphometric and western blot approaches using antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilament protein (NFP).


RESULTS
Statistically significant differences were observed between the methamphetamine-exposed and the alcohol-exposed rats, as compared to the controls. The optic nerve cross-sectional area was smaller in the drug or alcohol-exposed animals. The expression of developmental protein markers (GFAP and MBP) in the retina and optic nerve displayed striking alterations related to drug or alcohol abuse during gestation and lactation.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychostimulant and alcohol exposure alters the development of the retina and optic nerve.
Pons
S
S
Unidad de Investigación Oftalmológica Santiago Grisolía (Valencia, España) y Departamento de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Punta de Europa, Algeciras, España.
Zanón-Moreno
V
V
Melo
P
P
Vila
V
V
Gallego-Pinazo
R
R
Pinazo-Durán
M D
MD
D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000431:Ethanol; D008694:Methamphetamine