A neurotoxic effect of ethyl-alcohol abuse during the prenatal and postnatal period on the brain of laboratory rats was studied and the most vulnerable hippocampal regions were identified. Pregnant Wistar rats of our own breed received 20% alcohol, p.o. at libitum, every day since the conception to weaning of their offspring. Since the birth (the day 1) till the age of 18 days offspring were kept together with their mother and were exposed to postnatal alcohol effect (alcohol in breast milk). At the age of 18 days animals were perfused under deep thiopental anaesthesia with buffered solution of paraformaldehyde. Serial sections were processed to reveal degenerating neurons ( Fluoro-Jade B staining) a the nuclear pathology (bis-benzimide Hoechst). Brains of 18-day-old rats ere analysed under the light microscope. In CA1 and CA3 areas and in Gyrus dentatus of the hippocampus, groups of degenerating cells were observed. Cells with fine granulated karyons, which were accompanied with hight of glial cells were identified in all offspring. Our results demonstrate the neurotoxic effects of alcohol and the high vulnerability of the developing CNS. Presence of cells with fine granulated karyons suggest that the process of neuronal circuit remodelling in the juvenile tissue is long-term and is probably triggered by apoptotic mechanism of the cell death.

This study was supported by grants GAÈR 305/03/H148, GAÈR 309/05/2015, GA UK 45/2004 and MSM 0021620816