The Effect of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activator, Alda-1®, on the Ethanol-induced Brain Damage in a Rat of Binge Ethanol Intoxication.

Aims: This study was aimed to investigate whether the aldehyde dehydrogenase activator (Alda-1®) reduces neuronal damage in a rat model of binge ethanol exposure.Methods: Thirty-six adolescent male rats (130-150 g) were randomly assigned into three groups; sham, ethanol-only group (25% ethanol intragastrically thrice daily for four days, approximately 10 g/kg/day) and ethanol with Alda-1® group (10 mg/kg thrice daily for four days). The ALDH activity of baseline and 90 min after last infusion of each group was measured. Brain damages were investigated by using Luxol fast blue-Cresyl violet stain in the hippocampus, CA1 and CA2/3. The activation of astrocytes and microglia were examined using immunohistochemistry for antiglial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and anti-ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1).Results: After four day binge, the ALDH activity level was doubled in ethanol with alda-1® group (mean: 7.87, SD: 0.67), whereas, the levels of sham group (mean: 4.07, SD: 0.53) and ethanol only group (mean: 3.77, SD: 0.36) were slightly decreased. The more significant neuronal shrinkage, fewer neurons, loss of Nissl substance of the hippocampus were observed in the ethanol only group in comparison to the ethanol with Alda-1® group. The astrocytosis and microgliosis of the hippocampus were also more activated in the ethanol only group than those in the ethanol with Alda-1® group.Conclusion: The administration of Alda-1® reduces the cytotoxic damage of the hippocampus in adolescent rats with binge ethanol exposure.