EFFECT OF CHRONIC ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION ON THE HUMAN LOCUS-COERULEUS

被引:24
作者
BAKER, KG
HALLIDAY, GM
HARPER, CG
机构
[1] PRINCE WALES MED RES INST,RANDWICK,NSW,AUSTRALIA
[2] ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSP,CAMPERDOWN,NSW 2050,AUSTRALIA
关键词
ALCOHOL; NORADRENALINE; PATHOLOGY; QUANTITATION;
D O I
10.1111/j.1530-0277.1994.tb01455.x
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
Despite reduced levels of noradrenaline and increased cortical beta-adrenergic receptor binding, there is controversy regarding the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the LC; in particular, to determine whether or not there is any alteration in the size or number of neurons, or other significant changes in this nucleus. Eight chronic alcoholics without additional medical complications and eight age-matched controls were selected for this study. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was used to visualize TH-positive neurons in spaced serial 50-mu m sections throughout the length of the LC. These neurons were counted and no correction factors applied. There was no significant loss of TH-positive neurons in the LC of alcoholics compared with controls who had up to 20% variation in the number of neurons between individuals. This confirms published results from one alcoholic without complications, but contradicts recent findings of a significant neuronal loss in five alcoholics, all with liver pathology. Our analysis suggests that central noradrenergic neurons in alcoholics without significant medical complications are not susceptible to alcohol neurotoxicity.
引用
收藏
页码:1491 / 1496
页数:6
相关论文
共 48 条
[1]  
AGARWAL DP, 1990, ALCOHOL METABOLISM A
[2]  
[Anonymous], 1989, WERNICKE KORSAKOFF S
[3]  
Arango V., 1993, Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, V17, P444
[4]   LOW-DOSES OF ETHANOL DISRUPT SENSORY RESPONSES OF BRAIN NORADRENERGIC NEURONS [J].
ASTONJONES, G ;
FOOTE, SL ;
BLOOM, FE .
NATURE, 1982, 296 (5860) :857-860
[5]  
ASTONJONES G, 1990, PHARM NORADRENALINE
[6]  
ASTONJONES G, 1991, J NEUROSCI, V11, P730
[7]   DISTRIBUTION, MORPHOLOGY AND NUMBER OF MONOAMINE-SYNTHESIZING AND SUBSTANCE P-CONTAINING NEURONS IN THE HUMAN DORSAL RAPHE NUCLEUS [J].
BAKER, KG ;
HALLIDAY, GM ;
HORNUNG, JP ;
GEFFEN, LB ;
COTTON, RGH ;
TORK, I .
NEUROSCIENCE, 1991, 42 (03) :757-775
[8]   CYTOARCHITECTURE OF SEROTONIN-SYNTHESIZING NEURONS IN THE PONTINE TEGMENTUM OF THE HUMAN BRAIN [J].
BAKER, KG ;
HALLIDAY, GM ;
HALASZ, P ;
HORNUNG, JP ;
GEFFEN, LB ;
COTTON, RGH ;
TORK, I .
SYNAPSE, 1991, 7 (04) :301-320
[9]   LOSS OF NEURONS OF ORIGIN OF THE ADRENERGIC PROJECTION TO CEREBRAL-CORTEX (NUCLEUS LOCUS CERULEUS) IN SENILE DEMENTIA [J].
BONDAREFF, W ;
MOUNTJOY, CQ ;
ROTH, M .
NEUROLOGY, 1982, 32 (02) :164-168
[10]   NEUROADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO CHRONIC ETHANOL [J].
BUCK, KJ ;
HARRIS, RA .
ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, 1991, 15 (03) :460-470