Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (17): 1610-1615.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.141787

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Damage of hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic alcoholism

Ailin Du 1, 2, Hongbo Jiang 2, 3, Lei Xu 2, Na An 2, Hui Liu 2, 3, Yinsheng Li 2, Ruiling Zhang 1, 2, 4   

  1. 1 Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
    2 Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
    3 Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
    4 Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-psychiatry, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2014-05-10 Online:2014-09-16 Published:2014-09-16
  • Contact: Yinsheng Li, M.D., Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China, 13462256118@126.com. Ruiling Zhang, M.D., Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China; Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China; Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-psychiatry, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, China, zrlxx2fy@126.com.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81471351; Key Project of the Science and Technology Foundation of Henan Provincial Education Department of China, No. 12A320013; the Funds of Henan Province Health Technology Talents Innovative Project, No. 3052; and the Open Fund of Henan Provincial Mental Hospital, Henan Key Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry.

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Abstract:

Chronic alcoholism can damage the cytoskeleton and aggravate neurological deficits. However, the effect of chronic alcoholism on hippocampal neurons remains unclear. In this study, a model of chronic alcoholism was established in rats that were fed with 6% alcohol for 42 days. Endogenous hydrogen sulfide content and cystathionine-beta-synthase activity in the hippocampus of rats with chronic alcoholism were significantly increased, while F-actin expression was decreased. Hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic alcoholism appeared to have a fuzzy nuclear membrane, mitochondrial edema, and ruptured mitochondrial crista. These findings suggest that chronic alcoholism can cause learning and memory decline in rats, which may be associated with the hydrogen sulfide/cystathionine-beta-synthase system, mitochondrial damage and reduced expression of F-actin.

Key words: nerve regeneration, chronic alcoholism, hydrogen sulfide, cystathionine-beta-synthase, learning, memory, F-actin, mitochondria, hippocampus, NSFC grant, neural regeneration