Mental Health Weekly Digest
August 10, 2009
ALCOHOLISM;
New alcoholism study findings have been reported by scientists at
Yerevan State University
According to recent research published in the journal Alcoholism –
Clinical and Experimental Research, "Chronic alcoholism leads to
elevated plasma and brain homocysteine (Hcy) levels, as demonstrated
by clinical investigations and animal experiments. It has been posited
that elevated levels of Hcy mediate DNA damage, brain atrophy, and
excitotoxicity."
"The current study sought to elucidate the effect of vitamin E on
ethanol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia, DNA damage, and atrophy in the
developing hippocampus and cerebellum of rats. Pregnant Wistar rats
received ethanol with or without vitamin E from gestation day 7
throughout lactation. Weight changes in the brain, hippocampus and
cerebellum, DNA damage, and Hcy levels in the plasma, hippocampus, and
cerebellum of male offspring were measured at the end of
lactation. The results revealed that along with a significant decrease
in brain, cerebellum, and hippocampus weights in animals that received
alcohol, the levels of DNA damage and Hcy significantly
increased. Significant amelioration of brain atrophy and DNA damage as
well as restoration of the elevated level of Hcy to that of controls
were found in vitamin E-treated rats," wrote A. Shirpoor and
colleagues, Yerevan State University (see also Alcoholism).
The researchers concluded: "These findings strongly support the idea
that ethanol intake by dams during pregnancy and lactation induces
Hcy-mediated oxidative stress in the developing hippocampus and
cerebellum of offspring rats, and that these effects can be alleviated
by vitamin E as an antioxidant."
Shirpoor and colleagues published their study in Alcoholism – Clinical
and Experimental Research (Protective Effect of Vitamin E Against
Ethanol-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia, DNA Damage, and Atrophy in the
Developing Male Rat Brain. Alcoholism – Clinical and Experimental
Research, 2009;33(7):1181-1186).
For additional information, contact A. Shirpoor, Yerevan State
University, Dept. of Physiol, Faculty Biology, Yerevan 0025, Armenia.