Grape polyphenols protect neurodegenerative changes induced by chronic ethanol administration

INCREASED oxidative stress in the brain due to chronic ethanol consumption is known to result in a number of neurodegenerative changes. This study was designed to test whether dietary supplementation of grape polyphenols (GP) can offer protection to the neurodegenerative changes resulting from chron ic ethanol consumption. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a Leiber-DeCarli liqui d diet with ethanol or isocaloric amount of maltose, and with or without GP for 2 months. Chronic ethanol caused significant decreases in synaptosomal Na,KATPase (20.5%) and dopamine uptake (22.8%) activities compared with pa ir-fed controls. Although GP alone did not alter activities of these membra ne-bound proteins, GP supplementation was able to completely protect the de crease in synaptic protein function elicited by chronic ethanol consumption . (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.