Chronic alcohol feeding induces biochemical, histological, and functional alterations in rat retina.
OBJECTIVE
Ethanol consumption originates a wide spectrum of disorders, including alteration of visual function. Oxidative stress is included among the mechanisms by which alcohol predisposes nervous tissue to injury. Retina, which is the neurosensorial eye tissue, is particularly sensitive to oxidative stress.


METHODS
In this study we analyze the effect of long-term alcohol consumption on oxidative stress parameters of the rat retina, and its correlation to retinal function, as well as to the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. We also study the protective effect of ebselen, a synthetic selenoorganic antioxidant.


RESULTS
Herein we show that ethanol has a toxic effect on rat retina associated with oxidative stress. Decreases in retina glutathione concentration and increases in malondialdehyde content in whole eye homogenate significantly correlate with ERG b-wave decrease and Bcl-2 overexpression. We also show how ebselen is able to prevent all the alterations observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic ethanol consumption induces oxidative stress in rat retina associated with an impairment of ERG and Bcl-2 overexpression, suggesting a role for glial cells. All these alterations in the rat allow the proposal of an alcoholic retinopathy in this species.
Sancho-Tello
María
M
Fundación Oftalmológica del Mediterráneo, Valencia, Spain.
Muriach
María
M
Barcia
Jorge
J
Bosch-Morell
Francisco
F
Genovés
José M
JM
Johnsen-Soriano
Siv
S
Romero
Belén
B
Almansa
Inmaculada
I
Díaz-Llopis
Manuel
M
García-Delpech
Salvador
S
Romá
Joaquín
J
Romero
Francisco J
FJ
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D000431:Ethanol