Ethanol-induced reduction of neurotrophin secretion in neonatal rat cerebellar granule cells is mitigated by vitamin E.

摘要

Ethanol exposure during nervous system development produces a range of abnormalities, and in humans may lead to the fetal alcohol syndrome. Among the mechanisms hypothesized to play roles in ethanol neurotoxicity are altered expression of supportive neurotrophic factors (NTFs), and cellular disturbances in oxidative processes. In this study, ethanol effects on secretion of two NTFs, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3 were analyzed in neonatal rat cerebellar granule cells, and the potential of the antioxidant vitamin E to modulate ethanol effects was investigated. Ethanol exposure in these preparations reduced NTF secretion, but vitamin E appreciably ameliorated the ethanol effects. Possible mechanisms underlying both the ethanol effects on NTF secretion, and the protection of this antioxidant are considered.