Effects of Early Postnatal Exposure to Ethanol on Retinal Ganglion Cell Morphology and Numbers of Neurons in the Dorsolateral Geniculate in Mice

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Dursun I., Jakubowska-Dogru E., van der List D., Liets L. C., Coombs J. L., Berman R. F.

ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, vol.35, no.11, pp.2063-2074, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01557.x
  • Journal Name: ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2063-2074
  • Keywords: Postnatal Ethanol, Yellow Fluorescent Protein Mice, Retinal Ganglion Cell Morphology, Stereological Cell Counts, FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME, OPTIC-NERVE HYPOPLASIA, NEONATAL-RAT CEREBELLUM, BRAIN GROWTH SPURT, MOUSE RETINA, INTRAGASTRIC INTUBATION, CRITICAL PERIODS, PURKINJE-CELLS, DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGES, MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: The adverse effects of fetal and early postnatal ethanol intoxication on peripheral organs and the central nervous system are well documented. Ocular defects have also been reported in about 90% of children with fetal alcohol syndrome, including microphthalmia, loss of neurons in the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer, optic nerve hypoplasia, and dysmyelination. However, little is known about perinatal ethanol effects on retinal cell morphology. Examination of the potential toxic effects of alcohol on the neuron architecture is important because the changes in dendritic geometry and synapse distribution directly affect the organization and functions of neural circuits. Thus, in the present study, estimations of the numbers of neurons in the ganglion cell layer and dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), and a detailed analysis of RGC morphology were carried out in transgenic mice exposed to ethanol during the early postnatal period.