SEROTONINERGIC INNERVATION AND ASTROGLIAL RESPONSE IN THE BRAINS OF RAT OFFSPRING SUBJECTED TO CHRONIC MATERNAL ETHANOL EXPOSURE

EVRARD, SG; RAMOS AJ; TAGLIAFERRO, PA; TRICÁRICO, MV; FERRARI, A; DUHALDE VEGA, M; BRUSCO, A

Corrientes, Argentina

Congreso; Reunion Anual de Comunicaciones Científicas de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE).; 2001

Serotoninergic system and astrocytes play a role during brain development. Astrocytes are altered by prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE). PEE is also associated with reduced serotonin (5-HT) levels and abnormal development of the serotoninergic innervation (5-HTi). In this study we analyzed the response to PEE in different brain areas. We used a model of maternal-fetal alcoholism in Wistar rats, exposed to ethanol 6.6% during 6 weeks before breeding, during gestation and lactation until postnatal day 21. Brain sections were processed by immunocytochemistry using antibodies directed to serotonin transporter (5-HTT), GFAP, and S-100ß protein (an astrocyte–derived growth factor). Three 5-HTi areas were studied: frontal cortex (FCx), CA1 hippocampal area and striatum (Str). It was found astrocyte hipertrophy and increased 5-HTT+ fibers in all three areas. S-100ß-IR was increased in FCx and CA1 but not in Str. These findings could be suggesting a role of altered 5-HT in PEE over astrocytes due to their 5-HT1A receptors, that are proposed as mediators in the release of S-100ß.