Ethanol and adult CNS neurodamage: oxidative stress, but possibly not excitotoxicity. Journal Article


Authors: Collins, M. A.; Neafsey, E. J.
Article Title: Ethanol and adult CNS neurodamage: oxidative stress, but possibly not excitotoxicity.
Abstract: Evidence from experiments with adult rodents chronically treated with ethanol via either repetitive binges or continuous intake/exposure supports the occurrence of brain oxidative stress and, at least in binge intoxication/rat models, its essential causative role in neurodamage. However, pharmacological antagonism experiments reveal that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent excitotoxicity is not responsible for adult mammalian brain neurodegeneration caused by repetitive binge ethanol intoxication and withdrawals. Since NMDA receptor antagonists apparently are untested with respect to neuronal death/loss in continuous intake/ingestion rodent models, e.g., ethanol/water or ethanol/liquid diets, it is therefore erroneous to assert, as is often done, that excitotoxicity is an important mechanism for ethanol-induced adult mammalian brain damage. Alternatively, results from several laboratories indicate that neurodegeneration due to chronic binge ethanol exposure/withdrawal may be dependent on redox transcription factor signaling and neuroinflammatory/oxidative stress pathways (increased arachidonic acid mobilization and pro-inflammatory cytokines; decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines) downstream of microglial/astroglial activation and moderate yet significant brain edema.
Journal Title: Frontiers in Bioscience
Volume: 4
ISSN: 1945-0508
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2012
Start Page: 1358
End Page: 1367
Language: English
DOI/URL:
Notes: ID: 12314; Record Owner: From MEDLINE, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.; Status: MEDLINE; Publishing Model: Journal available in: Electronic Citation processed from: Internet; NLM Journal Code: 101485240; CAS Registry/EC Number/Name of Substance: 0 (Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate). 64-17-5 (Ethanol).; Grant Number: R21AA011543 (United States NIAAA NIH HHS), T32 AA013527 (United States NIAAA NIH HHS), UO1 AA018279 (United States NIAAA NIH HHS); Electronic Date of Publication: 20120101; Entry Date: 20120514