Effects of ethanol on rat schwann cell proliferation and myelination in culture |
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Authors: | Francis A Mithen Margaret M Reiker Regina Birchem |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Veterans Affairs, John Cochran Medical Center, 3660 Vista Avenue, #305, 63110 St. Louis, MO;(2) Department of Biology, Penn State University, 15132 McKeesport, PA |
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Abstract: | Summary It is possible to treat dissociated embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia in culture to inhibit proliferation of all nonneuronal
cells except Schwann cells. Neurons have been shown to produce a mitogenic stimulus for Schwann cells under these conditions.
Additionally, myelin-competent neurons induce Schwann cells to elaborate myelin sheaths. Groups of sibling cultures were exposed
to various nonlethal concentrations of ethanol (0, 43, 86, or 172 mM) for 4 wk. Culture were assessed weekly by light microscopy in a blind fashion for evidence of Schwann cell proliferation
and myelin formation. Ethanol adversely affected both Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation in culture. No obvious
differences in neuronal morphology were observed among the various groups of cultures by light or electron microscopy. These
observations suggest that ethanol might interfere with Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation in culture by one or
both of the following means: a) inhibit neuronal production of signals for Schwann cell proliferation and myelination or b)
impede Schwann cell responses to neuronal signals. Investigation of these possibilities in culture may provide insight into
neuropathologic mechanisms operative in the fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-associated peripheral neuropathy in humans.
This work was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. |
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Keywords: | ethanol tissue culture peripheral nerve disease Schwann cell myelin sheath fetal alcohol syndrome |
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