The effects of ethanol on the hippocampal neural tissue development and kainite receptor expression in young mouse / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To investigate the effects of ethanol on neural development and kainate receptor expression in young mice. Methods Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model was established by administration of 20% ethanol solu?tion to 7-day-old Kunming mice and control animals received physiological saline (The number of treatment and control were 80 and 40, respectively ). Body weight and general biological features were observed every day. Morris water maze was used to test learning and memory ability. Fluoro-Jade B was used to examine neural cells 24 hours after treatment in additional thirty 7-day-old Kunming mice which were further divided into two groupsa treatment group receiving 20%ethanol solution (n=15) and a control group receiving physiological saline (n=15). The development of neural cells and expression levels of kainite receptors were examined by using immunofluorescence staining. Results The body weight was significantly lighter in treatment group than in control group(control21.13 ± 1.72g,treatment13.96 ± 2.98g,P<0.05). Morris test showed that model group had longer latency than control group to find hidden platform(control21.05± 5.31s,treatment34.15±3.26s,P<0.05). Spatial probe test revealed that the number of passing through the platform were significantly smaller in model group than in control group(control2.70 ± 1.25 times,treatment0.93 ± 0.80 times,P<0.05). Astrocyte development anomaly was evident after ethanol treatment for 7 days. The expression levels of kainite re?ceptor GluR-6 and KA2 were up-regulated in the CA region of the hippocampus after ethanol treatment for 7 days. Con?clusion Kainite receptor GluR-6 and KA2 in CA region of the hippocampus may contribute to ethanol-induced hippo?campal neural development anomaly.