Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 21(1): 3223 - 3232. Published March, 2014.
Chronic Ethanol Administration Causes Expansion of S100B-Immunoreactive Cells in Rat Brain
Zhipeng Shen1, Bo Chen2, Guoqiang Zhao1*
1Children's Hospital; Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Lane, Hangzhou 310003, P. R. China
2Hangzhou Hospital of Zhejiang Corps, Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, 86 Jiangnan Avenue, Hangzhou 310051, P. R. China
*Correspondence: Dr. Guoqiang Zhao, Children's Hospital; Zhejiang
University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Lane, Hangzhou 310003, P. R.
China; E-mail: guoqiangzhao2@hotmail.com (Zhao G.)
Keywords: Ethanol; S100B protein; Immunochemistry; Cerebrum; Cerebellum
1 SUMMMARY
There is increasing evidence that chronic ethanol consumption affects,
either directly or indirectly, the survival and viability of cells in
the nervous system. This study investigated the effect of long-term
ethanol administration on the number of S100B-immunoreactive (S100B-IR)
cells in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Anti-S100B
immunohistochemical staining was done at regular timepoints in rats
that were administered daily intraperitoneal injections of ethanol (2
g/kg) for 45 days. The analysis showed the presence of S100B-IR cells
in all cortical layers and the white matter in both control and
ethanol-treated groups. The percentage of S100B-IR cells, however, was
found to be highly dependent on the histological position within the
cortex and cerebellum. It was observed a significant increase in the
number of S100B-IR cells in ethanol-treated rats compared to the
control, especially in the output layers of the cortex. Specifically,
the following increments were detected-25.03%, 23.81% and 23.23% in
cerebral cortical layers III, V and VI, respectively; 30.39% in the
Purkinje cell (PC) layer of the cerebellar cortex; 27.68% and 25.00% in
the white matter of the cerebrum and the cerebellum, respectively. This
study provides the first evidence that chronic ethanol administration
stimulates S100B-IR cell hyperplasia in brain, especially in cortical
output layers and the white matter. The expansion of S100B-IR cells in
response to ethanol insult in the brain is likely to protect injured
tissues and partly contribute to maintaining neuronal function.
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