title: Experimental model of alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this work was to determine the effect of chronic alcohol exposure on peripheral nerves in a nutritionally balanced rat model of alcoholism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different strains of adult male rats were pair-fed for 8 weeks with isocaloric liquid diets containing 0% or 37% ethanol. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed. Peripheral nerve and muscle were examined histologically with morphometrics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethanol exposure significantly slowed velocity in tibial and fibular nerves, but not in the plantar nerve in all 3 strains. Studies of the sciatic nerve revealed decreased fiber diameters and increased regenerative sprouts in peripheral nerves. There was muscle denervation of ethanol-exposed rats in all 3 strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic ethanol exposure caused a polyneuropathy characterized by axonal degeneration despite adequate nutrition. These results suggest that ethanol exposure has direct neurotoxic effects on peripheral nerves. This model may be useful in understanding the underlying mechanism(s) of alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Suite 555, 2 Dudley Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA. mmellion1@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mellion
authors.forename: Vananh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De La Monte
mesh_terms: D020269:Alcoholic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009121:Muscle Denervation / Q000379:methods; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: alcohol; chronic ethanol exposure; nerve conduction study; neuropathy; rat model