Effects of Maternal Ethanol Intake during the Pregnancy and Lactation on the Expression of AMPA Receptors in Hippocampus of Pups at Different Stages of Brain Development

Abstract

AimTo investigate whether ethanol consumption during pregnancy and lactation might induce changes on the expression of GluR1 and GluR2 in the hippocampus of pups at different stages of brain development. Female rats were exposed to water (control, n=8) or ethanol 10% (alcoholic, n=8) for 60 days, from mating to weaning. The pups were studied at PND30–90 (n=8–13). Immunohistochemistry. Positive cells were quantified. ANOVA. Alcoholic pups showed reduction in GluR1 expression in CA1 and HDG (23–51%, p<0,001) at all stages of development, while in CA3 the reduction was found only at PND21 and 30 (50%, p<0,001). Comparisons within the same treatment showed both increase and decrease in GluR1 along the development in controls while predominant increase was found in alcoholic pups (33–163%, p<0,001). GluR2 expression was reduced only in CA1 of alcoholic pups at PND60 (25%) and 90 (16%) (p<0,001), and increased in CA3 at PND60 (86%, p<0,001). Within the same treatment, GluR2 expression in controls or alcoholic pups in different stages of development showed an increase in CA1 (33–78%), a decrease in CA3 (25–50%) and both in HDG (19–67%) (p<0,001). Maternal ethanol intake during pregnancy and lactation induces changes in glutamatergic neurotransmission in the pups brains through the AMPA receptors, which may implicate the normal development of brain regions crucial for learning and memory functions. Support: FPA.