Nicotinamide protects against ethanol-induced apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing mouse brain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to alcohol during brain development may cause a neurological syndrome called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Ethanol induces apoptotic neuronal death at specific developmental stages, particularly during the brain-growth spurt, which occurs from the beginning of third trimester of gestation and continues for several years after birth in humans, whilst occurring in the first two postnatal weeks in mice. Administration of a single dose of ethanol in 7-d postnatal (P7) mice triggers activation of caspase-3 and widespread apoptotic neuronal death in the forebrain, providing a possible explanation for the microencephaly observed in human FAS. The present study was aimed at determining whether nicotinamide may prevent ethanol-induced neurodegeneration.

Methods and fi

SUBMITTER: Ieraci A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1370925 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature