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EFFECTS OF LIFELONG ETHANOL CONSUMPTION ON RAT LOCUS COERULEUS |
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| Authors: | LU, WEI JAATINEN, PIA RINTALA, JYRKI SARVIHARJU, MAIJA KIIANMAA, KALERVO HERVONEN, ANTTI |
| Affiliation: | 1Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere Tampere 2Tampere University Hospital Tampere Helsinki, Finland 3Department of Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute Helsinki, Finland |
| Abstract: | The effects of lifelong ethanol consumption and ageing on themorphology of locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in alcohol-preferringAA (Alko Alcohol) rats of both sexes. Ethanol (12% v/v) wasthe only available liquid for the ethanol-consuming rats from3 months up to 24 months of age. Young (3-month-old) and old(24-month-old) control groups were included in the measurements.The LC morphometry was performed by an unbiased disector method.In the old control rats, the total neuron number, neuronal densityand the volume of the LC proper did not differ from the youngcontrols. In the ethanol-exposed rats, the total neuron numberof the LC was decreased by 30% and the LC neuronal density by22%, compared to the age-matched controls. No gender differencewas found in the vulnerability of LC neurons to ethanol-induceddegeneration. The results suggest a remarkable sensitivity ofthe LC neurons to the ethanol-induced degeneration in both maleand female rats. The possible mechanisms and functional implicationsof this neuronal loss are discussed. |
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