乙醇对大鼠脑内5-HT能神经体系的影响

目的 观察乙醇处理大鼠脑内色氨酸羟化酶(TPH)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)和5-羟色胺转运体(SERT)的表达改变,判断乙醇对脑内5-HT能神经体系的影响.方法 以20%乙醇代替饮水饲养30只Wistar大鼠6个月;利用免疫组织化学、免疫印迹及流式细胞术等方法,分析乙醇处理大鼠有关脑区5-HT能神经体系相关指标的改变.结果 1.免疫组织化学法可见,乙醇处理组大鼠脑内中缝背核TPH、5-HT免疫反应阳性神经元数量少于对照组(P＜0.01);TPH免疫阳性神经元直径小于对照组(P＜0.01);相关脑区TPH、5-HT和SERT免疫反应灰度值比对照组增高(P<0.05).2.流式细胞术检测可见,乙醇处理组大鼠TPH、5-HT和SERT的表达量低于对照组(P<0.05).3.免疫印迹法检测可见,乙醇处理组大鼠SERT和TPH与β-actin相对吸光度比值均小于相应对照组(P<0.05).结论 乙醇降低脑内TPH、5-HT和SERT的表达,可能改变脑内5-HT能神经体系的功能活动.

Effect of ethanol on the serotonergic systems in rat brain

Objective To study the effect of ethonal on the serotonergic systems by analyzing the altered expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), serotonin (5-HT) and serotonin transporter (SERT) in the brain of ethanol treated rats. Methods Wistar rats were treated with 20% ethanol for 6 months. Immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to analyze the altered expression of the serotonergic markers in different brain regions of the ethanol treated rats. Results 1. Immunohistochemistry showed the number of TPH or 5-HT positive neurons in dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is less in ethanol treated rats than that in control (EM>P/EM>0.01), the diameter of TPH neurons in DRN is smaller than that in control (EM>P/EM>0.01) and the mean gray value of TPH, 5-HT and SERT in observed regions of the ethanol treated rats is larger than that in control (EM>P/EM>0.05). 2. Flow cytometry showed the expression of TPH, 5-HT and SERT in the studied regions of the ethanol treated rats decreased significantly compared with control (EM>P/EM>0.05). 3. Western blotting showed the ratio of SERT/β-actinin or TPH/β-actinin in analyzed regions of the ethanol-treated