EFFECTS OF ETHANOL AND DIAZEPAM TREATMENTS ON SILVER-STAINED NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS IN MAMMILLARY BODIES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol and diaze pam on neuronal protein synthesis activity. We used 32 male Wistar rat s, divided into four groups. Group 1 (n=8) received diazepam i.p. (2 m g kg(-1)), Group 2 (n=8) received distilled water i.p. (2 mg kg(-1)), Group 3 was chronically alcoholised and Group 4 (n=8) was untreated. T he mammillary bodies (MB) were chosen to analyse protein synthesis, th is region is involved in the Korsakoff alcoholic syndrome and has a hi gh density of benzodiazepine receptors. Neuronal protein synthesis act ivity was evaluated by quantifying the number of silver-stained nucleo lar organiser regions (Ag-NORs) per nucleus. The results showed a decr ease in biosynthetic activity of MB neurons in the animals treated wit h ethanol and diazepam as compared with the control groups.