Ethanol-induced Alterations in the Nervous System of Rat

.....................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................8 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.................................................................................10 1. Effects of ethanol consumption on mortality and morbidity........................10 2. Ethanol metabolism......................................................................................12 3. Ethanol-induced functional effects on neurons ............................................14 3.1. Cell membrane changes ............................................................................14 3.2. Effects on CNS neuronal receptors ...........................................................14 3.3. Effects on adrenergic receptors.................................................................15 3.4. Effect on mitochondrial energy metabolism.............................................16 4. Chronic ethanol exposure and glial cells......................................................16 4.1. Structural alterations .................................................................................16 4.2. Functional alterations in microglia ...........................................................18 5. Ethanol-induced structural changes in the nervous system..........................18 5.1. Central nervous system .............................................................................18 5.2. Peripheral nervous system ........................................................................20 5.3. Autonomic nervous system.......................................................................21 AIMS OF THE STUDY..................................................................................................22 MATERIALS AND METHODS ....................................................................................23 1. Animals and experimental settings...............................................................23 1.1. Lifelong ethanol exposure (I, II) ...............................................................24 1.2. Long-term intermittent and continuous ethanol exposure (III, IV)...........24 1.3. Repeated ethanol intoxications and withdrawals (V)................................25 2. Ethical considerations...................................................................................25 3. Preparation of tissues (I-V) ..........................................................................26 4. Histological procedures ................................................................................26 4.1. Formaldehyde-induced histofluorescence (II, III) ....................................26 4.2. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (II, III) ......................................27 4.3. Tomato lectin histochemistry (IV)............................................................27 4.4. Cytochrome oxidase staining (V) .............................................................28