CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NEUROCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS AND IMMUNE EFFECTS OF PRENATAL ETHANOL EXPOSURE IN RATS

In contrast to the well known effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on the central nervous system, data about its peripheral effects are scar ce. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet (gestational days 0-20) containing 36% ethanol-derived calories (EDCs, group H) or were pair-fed with 18% EDCs (group L) or 0% EDCs (group C). On postnatal d ay 20, one male and one female from each of 10 litters per group were killed. Norepinephrine (NE) was analyzed in the frontal cortex, spleen and thymus, and dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5-HT) and t heir metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid (HV A) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were analyzed in the striat um by highperformance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detec tion. Lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen and thymus were also ass essed in half of these litters. Significant decreases in splenic NE co ncentration were seen in both sexes of group H (males 27%, females 28% ). Decreases in striatal 5-HT and 5-HIAA of group H subjects appeared to be sex specific (only females were significantly affected: 23% decr ease in 5-HT, 37% decrease in 5-HIAA). Pronounced, dose-dependent redu ctions in T cell percentages were observed in both the thymus and sple en. Splenic CD8(+) and CD4(+) cell percentages were positively correla ted with the splenic NE concentrations. It is concluded that the decre ases seen in splenic T cell percentages subsequent to prenatal ethanol exposure may be caused, at least partially, by impaired noradrenergic control of this organ. Copyright (C) 1996 ISDN.