title: Chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence in rats induces motor impairments and cerebral cortex damage associated with oxidative stress.
abstract: Binge drinking is common among adolescents, and this type of ethanol exposure may lead to long-term nervous system damage. In the current study, we evaluated motor performance and tissue alterations in the cerebral cortex of rats subjected to intermittent intoxication with ethanol from adolescence to adulthood. Adolescent male Wistar rats (35 days old) were treated with distilled water or ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day, 22.5% w/v) during 55 days by gavage to complete 90 days of age. The open field, inclined plane and the rotarod tests were used to assess the spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination performance in adult animals. Following completion of behavioral tests, half of animals were submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation of NeuN (marker of neuronal bodies), GFAP (a marker of astrocytes) and Iba1 (microglia marker) in the cerebral cortex while the other half of the animals were subjected to analysis of oxidative stress markers by biochemical assays. Chronic ethanol intoxication in rats from adolescence to adulthood induced significant motor deficits including impaired spontaneous locomotion, coordination and muscle strength. These behavioral impairments were accompanied by marked changes in all cellular populations evaluated as well as increased levels of nitrite and lipid peroxidation in the cerebral cortex. These findings indicate that continuous ethanol intoxication from adolescence to adulthood is able to provide neurobehavioral and neurodegenerative damage to cerebral cortex.
authors: Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Francisco Bruno
authors: FB
authors: Teixeira
authors: Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Luana Nazaré da Silva
authors: LN
authors: Santana
authors: Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Fernando Romualdo
authors: FR
authors: Bezerra
authors: Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: De Carvalho
authors: Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil; Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Enéas Andrade
authors: EA
authors: Fontes-Júnior
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: Rui Daniel
authors: RD
authors: Prediger
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Maria Elena
authors: ME
authors: Crespo-López
authors: Laboratory Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Cristiane Socorro Ferraz
authors: CS
authors: Maia
authors: Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
authors: Rafael Rodrigues
authors: RR
authors: Lima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D000431:Ethanol