Progressive white matter atrophy with altered lipid profiles is partially reversed by short-term abstinence in an experimental model of alcohol-related neurodegeneration.

ABSTRACT: Chronic ethanol exposure causes white matter (WM) atrophy and degeneration with major impairments in the structural integrity of myelin. Since myelin is composed of oligodendrocyte lipid-rich membranes, understanding the consequences and reversibility of alcohol-related oligodendrocyte dysfunction in relation to myelin structure could provide new insights into the pathogenesis of WM degeneration and potential strategies for treatment. Adult male Long Evans rats were pair-fed with isocaloric liquid diets containing 0% or 26% ethanol (caloric) for 3 or 8 weeks. During the last 2 weeks of feeding, the ethanol groups were binged with 2 g/kg of ethanol by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; controls were treated with i.p. saline. For recovery effects, at the 6-

SUBMITTER: Yalcin EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5698851 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature