Neurotoxicity of prenatal alcohol exposure on medullary pre-Bötzinger complex neurons in neonatal rats

• Main Authors: Ming-li Ji, Yun-hong Wu, Zhi-bin Qian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Neural Regeneration Research
• Subjects: nerve regeneration; brain injury; prenatal alcohol exposure; pre-Bötzinger complex; respiratory depression; neonatal rats; medullary slice; medullary respiratory center; respiratory rhythmical discharge activity; respiratory neuron; 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor; neural regeneration
• Online Access: http://www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2015;volume=10;issue=7;spage=1095;epage=1100;aulast=Ji

Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts the development of normal fetal respiratory function, but whether it perturbs respiratory rhythmical discharge activity is unclear. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) is involved in the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. In the present study, pregnant female rats received drinking water containing alcohol at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8% or 10% (v/v) throughout the gestation period. Slices of the medulla from 2-day-old neonatal rats were obtained to record respiratory rhythmical discharge activity. 5-HT 2A R protein and mRNA levels in the pre-Bötzinger complex of the respiratory center were measured by western blot analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Compared with the 0% alcohol group, respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in medullary slices in the 4%, 8% and 10% alcohol groups was decreased, and the reduction was greatest in the 8% alcohol group. Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in the 10% alcohol group was irregular. Thus, 8% was the most effective alcohol concentration at attenuating respiratory rhythmical discharge activity. These findings suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure attenuates respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in neonatal rats by downregulating 5-HT 2A R protein and mRNA levels.