Changes in the female arcuate nucleus morphology and neurochemistry after chronic ethanol consumption and long-term withdrawal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Reboucas, ECC (Author) Other; Leal, S (Author) Other; Silva, SM (Author) FMUP; Sa, SI (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy

Vol. 77

Pages: 30-40

ISSN: 0891-0618

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-SSZ

DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.05.001

Abstract (EN): Ethanol is a macronutrient whose intake is a form of ingestive behavior, sharing physiological mechanisms with food intake. Chronic ethanol consumption is detrimental to the brain, inducing gender dependent neuronal damage. The hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARN) is a modulator of food intake that expresses feeding-regulatory neuropeptides, such as alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Despite its involvement in pathways associated with eating disorders and ethanol abuse, the impact of ethanol consumption and withdrawal in the ARN structure and neurochemistry in females is unknown. We used female rat models of 20% ethanol consumption for six months and of subsequent ethanol withdrawal for two months. Food intake and body weights were measured. ARN morphology was stereologically analyzed to estimate its volume, total number of neurons and total number of neurons expressing NPY, alpha-MSH, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). Ethanol decreased energy intake and body weights. However, it did not change the ARN morphology or the expression of NPY, alpha-MSH and TH, while increasing ERa expression. Withdrawal induced a significant volume and neuron loss that was accompanied by an increase in NPY expression without affecting alpha-MSH and TH expression. These findings indicate that the female ARN is more vulnerable to withdrawal than to excess alcohol. The data also support the hypothesis that the same pathways that regulate the expression of NPY and alpha-MSH in long-term ethanol intake may regulate food intake. The present model of long-term ethanol intake and withdrawal induces new physiological conditions with adaptive responses.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11