TY - JOUR
T1 - Estradiol protects against cerebellar damage and motor deficit in ethanol-withdrawn rats
AU - Jung, Marianna E.
AU - Yang, Shao H.
AU - Brun-Zinkernagel, Anne Marie
AU - Simpkins, James W.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - On the basis of findings obtained from this study, we hypothesize that the female sex steroid 17β-estradiol (E2) protects against cerebellar neuronal damage and behavioral deficit in rats withdrawn from chronic ethanol exposure. Ovariectomized rats implanted with E2 or an oil pellet received liquid ethanol (7.5% [wt./vol.]) or dextrin diet for 5 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of ethanol withdrawal. On termination of diet administration, rats were tested for both overt withdrawal signs and latency (seconds) to fall from an accelerating rotarod in six consecutive sessions (the longer the latency, the better the performance). The initial latency was measured separately to assess motoric capacity before learning occurred. Rats were then killed, and cerebella were prepared for accessing of Purkinje cell damage. The study revealed three specific findings. (1) In the absence of E2, the ethanol withdrawal group showed higher total ethanol withdrawal sign scores than those for the dextrin group, whereas the score for the ethanol withdrawal group was lower in the presence of E2. (2) In the absence of E2, the ethanol withdrawal group showed shorter rotarod latency than that for the dextrin group, whereas the latency for the ethanol withdrawal group increased in the E2-treated group. In ethanol withdrawal groups, E2 treatment also resulted in a longer latency than that observed with oil treatment in the initial session and in subsequent sessions. (3) Purkinje cell numbers in the ethanol withdrawal group without E2 were lower than those in dextrin groups and in the ethanol withdrawal group with E2 treatment. These findings support the suggestion that E2 exerts protective effects against withdrawal signs, cerebellar neuronal damage, and motoric impairment in subjects exposed to, and withdrawn from, chronic ethanol exposure.
AB - On the basis of findings obtained from this study, we hypothesize that the female sex steroid 17β-estradiol (E2) protects against cerebellar neuronal damage and behavioral deficit in rats withdrawn from chronic ethanol exposure. Ovariectomized rats implanted with E2 or an oil pellet received liquid ethanol (7.5% [wt./vol.]) or dextrin diet for 5 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of ethanol withdrawal. On termination of diet administration, rats were tested for both overt withdrawal signs and latency (seconds) to fall from an accelerating rotarod in six consecutive sessions (the longer the latency, the better the performance). The initial latency was measured separately to assess motoric capacity before learning occurred. Rats were then killed, and cerebella were prepared for accessing of Purkinje cell damage. The study revealed three specific findings. (1) In the absence of E2, the ethanol withdrawal group showed higher total ethanol withdrawal sign scores than those for the dextrin group, whereas the score for the ethanol withdrawal group was lower in the presence of E2. (2) In the absence of E2, the ethanol withdrawal group showed shorter rotarod latency than that for the dextrin group, whereas the latency for the ethanol withdrawal group increased in the E2-treated group. In ethanol withdrawal groups, E2 treatment also resulted in a longer latency than that observed with oil treatment in the initial session and in subsequent sessions. (3) Purkinje cell numbers in the ethanol withdrawal group without E2 were lower than those in dextrin groups and in the ethanol withdrawal group with E2 treatment. These findings support the suggestion that E2 exerts protective effects against withdrawal signs, cerebellar neuronal damage, and motoric impairment in subjects exposed to, and withdrawn from, chronic ethanol exposure.
KW - 17β-Estradiol
KW - Cerebellum
KW - Chronic ethanol toxicity
KW - Ethanol withdrawal
KW - Motor deficit
KW - Neuroprotection
KW - Purkinje cells
KW - Rotarod
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036233427&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0741-8329(01)00199-9
DO - 10.1016/S0741-8329(01)00199-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 12007583
AN - SCOPUS:0036233427
VL - 26
SP - 83
EP - 93
JO - Alcohol
JF - Alcohol
SN - 0741-8329
IS - 2
ER -