NUCLEAR-DNA STRAND BREAKS DURING ETHANOL-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RAT-BRAIN

Free radical-mediated oxidative damage has been implicated in the path ophysiological mechanisms of apoptosis. In this study we report that s tatistically significant strand breaks were induced primarily in the h ippocampus and cerebellum during chronic, and not acute, ethanol treat ment. Damage to DNA observed in hippocampus and cerebellum was also co rrelated with significant modification in the activities of mitochondr ial respiratory complexes I and IV and with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation products. This finding lends support to the fact th at hippocampus and cerebellum are brain areas particularly vulnerable to redox changes induced by alcohol intoxication, suggesting lower thr eshold levels of ethanol tolerance.