Effects of Maternal Ethanol Intake during the Pregnancy and Lactation on the Expression of NMDA 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 NR1 and NR2A in the hippocampus of pups at different stages of brain development. Female rats were exposed to water (controls, 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. Maternal ethanol intake induced changes in NR1 expression only in pups at PND21 (p<0,001) increasing in CA1 (30%) and decreasing in both CA3 (25%) and HDG (28%). Controls or alcoholic pups compared within the same treatment showed discrepant results in CA1, CA3 or HDG along the development. NR2A expression was reduced in CA1 of alcoholic pups at PND21 and 60 (25 and 44%, respectively), reduced in CA3 at PND30 (23%), increased in CA3 at PND90 (37%) (p<0,001) and no changed in HDG. Comparisons within the same treatment showed predominant reduction in NR2A expression along the development of both controls and alcoholic pups (18–38%, p<0,001). Maternal ethanol intake during pregnancy and lactation induces different changes on the expression of NMDA receptors in hippocampus of pups in different periods of development, which may reflect alterations in both glutamatergic neurotransmission during the brain maturation and hippocampal function at adulthood. Support: FPA.