ALTERATIONS OF THE THALAMOCORTICAL SYSTEM IN RATS PRENATALLY EXPOSED TO ETHANOL ARE PREVENTED BY CONCURRENT ADMINISTRATION OF ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

We previously demonstrated that adult rats prenatally exposed to ethan ol display permanent damages of thalamo-cortical connections [18,19,33 ]. Here the effect of simultaneous administration of ethanol and acety l-L-carnitine has been investigated. Adult animals underwent cortical or thalamic injections of horseradish peroxidase and both anterograde and retrograde thalamic and cortical labeling have been analyzed. Etha nol-induced changes of thalamo-cortical circuits are prevented by conc urrent administration of acetyl-L-carnitine, Possible mechanisms under lying this effect are discussed.