title: Ethanol-induced increased endogenous homocysteine levels and decreased ratios of SAM/SAH are only partially attenuated by exogenous glycine in developing chick brains.
abstract: The effects of exogenous ethanol (EtOH) and/or glycine on chick (Gallus gallus) embryo viability, brain apoptosis (caspase-3 activities), and the endogenous levels of brain homocysteine (HoCys), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and SAM/SAH were studied. Embryonic EtOH exposure caused decreased embryo viability as measured by EtOH-induced reductions in % living embryos at theoretical stage 37, EtOH-induced reductions in embryo masses, and EtOH-induced reductions in brain caspase-3 (Casp-3) activities. Exogenous glycine failed to attenuate EtOH-induced decreased embryo viability and EtOH-induced increased brain Casp-3 activities. Embryonic EtOH exposure caused elevated levels of endogenous HoCys, decreased levels of SAM, increased levels of SAH, and decreased SAM/SAH ratios in embryonic chick brains. While exogenous glycine failed to attenuate EtOH-induced increased HoCys levels, exogenous glycine attenuated EtOH-induced decreased levels of SAM, increased levels of SAH, and decreased SAM/SAH levels in embryonic chick brains.
authors.affiliation: Hillsdale College, Biology Department, 278 N. West Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242-1205, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Walcher
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D015536:Down-Regulation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012435:S-Adenosylhomocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006710:Homocysteine; D000431:Ethanol; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D012435:S-Adenosylhomocysteine; D053148:Caspase 3; D005998:Glycine