title: Time course of SERCA 2b and calreticulin expression in Purkinje neurons of ethanol-fed rats with behavioral correlates.
abstract: Chronic ethanol consumption for 40 weeks in adult rats results in dilation of the extensive smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), a major component of the calcium homeostatic system within Purkinje neuron (PN) dendrites.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine whether chronic ethanol consumption results in alterations of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase pump (SERCA) on the SER membrane of PN dendrites. The density of calreticulin, a calcium chaperone, was also investigated in the PN along with balancing ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety 8-month-old rats were exposed to rat chow, the AIN-93 M liquid control or ethanol diets (30/diet) for a duration of 10, 20 or 40 weeks (30/duration). Age changes relative to the rat chow controls were assessed with 3-month-old control rats (n = 10). Balance was assessed prior to euthanasia. Quantitative immunocytochemistry was used to determine the density of SERCA 2b + dendrites and calreticulin + PN soma and nuclei. Molecular layer volumes were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following 40 weeks of ethanol treatment, there were ethanol-induced decreases in SERCA 2b densities within the dendritic arbor and decreased balancing ability on the more difficult round rod balance test. There were no ethanol-induced changes in calreticulin densities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that ethanol-induced decreases in the SERCA pump accompany SER dilation and contribute to previously reported ethanol-induced dendritic regression in PN. Ethanol-induced changes in balance also occurred. Chronic ethanol consumption does not alter calreticulin expression in PN.
authors.affiliation: Corresponding author: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, 206 Farber Hall, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Frederick F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Dlugos
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dlugos
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D037282:Calreticulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C506948:Atp2a2 protein, rat; D037282:Calreticulin; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium