Brain nucleic acid composition and fractional rates of protein synthesis in response to chronic ethanol feeding: comparison with skeletal muscle

Alcohol
A B BonnerV R Preedy

Abstract

Brain atrophy is a common feature of chronic alcohol misuse, although the pathogenic mechanisms are unknown. We propose that defects in protein synthesis are contributing events. To test this hypothesis the experimental effects of chronic (i.e., 2 and 3 weeks) ethanol feeding on brain nucleic acid composition and rates of protein synthesis in vivo were investigated. These were compared with those of skeletal muscle (represented by the plantaris). Male Wistar rats, used at mean body weights of either 82 g (first study for 2 weeks ) or 93 g (second study for 3 weeks) were fed a nutritionally complete liquid diet in which ethanol comprised a third of the total calories. Control rats were pair-fed identical amounts of the same diet, in which ethanol was substituted by isoenergetic glucose. At 2 weeks there were small reductions (i.e., approximately 5-10%) in the weight of the whole brain, cortex, and brain stem. Ethanol-induced reductions in the total protein content of the brain stem was found at 2 weeks, although these changes did not achieve significance. At 3 weeks the weights of whole brain were significantly reduced compared to a greater reduction in skeletal muscle weights. Total protein contents were reduced at 3 weeks in t...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Jan 11, 2002·European Journal of Neurology : the Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies·V R PreedyT J Peters
Oct 5, 2001·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·L Q Hong-BrownC H Lang
Apr 18, 2003·Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental·A B BonnerV R Preedy

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