title: Maternal Exposure to Ethanol During Pregnancy and Lactation Affects Glutamatergic System and Induces Oxidative Stress in Offspring Hippocampus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol abuse during pregnancy leads to intellectual disability and morphological defects in the offspring. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chronic maternal ethanol (EtOH) consumption during pregnancy and lactation on glutamatergic transmission regulation, energy deficit, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of the offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  EtOH was administered to dams in drinking water at increasing doses (2 to 20%) from the gestation day 5 to lactation day 21. EtOH and tap water intake by treated and control groups, respectively, were measured daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that EtOH exposure does not affect fluid intake over the course of pregnancy and lactation. The toxicity of maternal exposure to EtOH was demonstrated by decreased offspring body weight at experimental age, on postnatal day 21. Moreover, maternal EtOH exposure decreased (45) Ca(2+) influx in the offspring's hippocampus. Corroborating this finding, EtOH increased both Na(+) -dependent and Na(+) -independent glial [(14) C]-glutamate uptake in hippocampus of immature rats. Also, maternal EtOH exposure decreased glutamine synthetase activity and induced aspartate aminotransferase enzymatic activity, suggesting that in EtOH-exposed offspring hippocampus, glutamate is preferentially used as a fuel in tricarboxylic acid cycle instead of being converted into glutamine. In addition, EtOH exposure decreased [U-14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake in offspring hippocampus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline in glucose transport coincided with increased lactate dehydrogenase activity, suggesting an adaptative response in EtOH-exposed offspring hippocampus, using lactate as an alternative fuel. These events were associated with oxidative damage, as demonstrated by changes in the enzymatic antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation. Taken together, the results demonstrate that maternal exposure to EtOH during pregnancy and lactation impairs glutamatergic transmission, as well as inducing oxidative stress and energy deficit in immature rat hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cesconetto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cattani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Parisotto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2844-8563
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamoner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D005973:Glutamine; D000431:Ethanol; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium; Ethanol; Glutamatergic System; Oxidative Stress