EFFECT OF PRENATAL ETHANOL EXPOSURE ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL PROFILE OF THE NMDA RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN RAT FOREBRAIN AND HIPPOCAMPUS

The effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on the NMDAR1 protein express ion (postnatal days I and 7) and on the developmental profile of the N MDAR2A and NMDAR2B subunits in rat forebrain and hippocampus were inve stigated. Forebrain and hippocampal membrane proteins were isolated fr om pups of various ages (postnatal days 1 to 21)from prenatally ethano l exposed, pair-fed and ad libitum control groups. A semiquantitative immunoblot procedure was used with antibodies raised against the NMDAR 1, NMDAR2A, and the NMDAR2B subunits to assess the NMDA subunit protei n expression in the samples. NMDAR1 protein expression was unaffected by prenatal ethanol exposure at postnatal day 1 or 7 in both the foreb rain and hippocampus. NMDAR2A protein expression levels rose rapidly i n both forebrain and hippocampus during the time frame of study. Prena tal ethanol exposure caused a significant reduction in protein express ion levels of the NMDAR2A in forebrain through postnatal day 14. NMDAR 2B protein expression levels were high throughout the study in both fo rebrain and hippocampus. Prenatal ethanol exposure significantly reduc ed protein expression of the NMDAR2B in the forebrain (through postnat al day 14) and hippocampus (up to day 7). The results suggest that the re may be a link between the depressed expression of the NMDAR2 subuni ts and the neurodevelopmental disorders associated with fetal ethanol exposure.