Binge alcohol-induced alterations in BDNF and GDNF expression in central extended amygdala and pyriform cortex on infant rats

BALASZCZUK V; BENDER C; PERENO G; BELTRAMINO C

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2013 vol. 31 p. 287 - 287

others who consume alcohol during pregnancy may cause a neurotoxic syndrome termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the offspring, which includes cognitive deficits and emotional/social disturbances. These alterations are thought to be caused, at least in part, by alcohol-induced imbalance in neurotrophic factor levels, which are critically involved in normal neurodevelopment. Our goal was to study whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression were affected by alcohol in central extended amygdala (CEXA) and pyriform cortex (Pyr), structures strongly involved in emotional/social behaviors. Further, we evaluated how these changes could be related to blood and brain alcohol concentrations. Postnatal day (PND) pups at 7, 15 and 20-days old were administered alcohol (2.5g/kg s.c. at 0 and 2h) or saline. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of BDNF and GDNF at 2, 12 and 24h afte