Alcohol-induced apoptosis of oligodendrocytes in the fetal macaque brain. 2013

Catherine E Creeley, and Krikor T Dikranian, and Stephen A Johnson, and Nuri B Farber, and John W Olney
Departments of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St, Louis, MO 63110, USA. creeleyc@psychiatry.wustl.edu.

BACKGROUND In utero exposure of the fetal non-human primate (NHP) brain to alcohol on a single occasion during early or late third-trimester gestation triggers widespread acute apoptotic death of cells in both gray and white matter (WM) regions of the fetal brain. In a prior publication, we documented that the dying gray matter cells are neurons, and described the regional distribution and magnitude of this cell death response. Here, we present new findings regarding the magnitude, identity and maturational status of the dying WM cells in these alcohol-exposed fetal NHP brains. RESULTS Our findings document that the dying WM cells belong to the oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage. OLs become vulnerable when they are just beginning to generate myelin basic protein in preparation for myelinating axons, and they remain vulnerable throughout later stages of myelination. We found no evidence linking astrocytes, microglia or OL progenitors to this WM cell death response. The mean density (profiles per mm3) of dying WM cells in alcohol-exposed brains was 12.7 times higher than the mean density of WM cells dying by natural apoptosis in drug-naive control brains. CONCLUSIONS In utero exposure of the fetal NHP brain to alcohol on a single occasion triggers widespread acute apoptotic death of neurons (previous study) and of OLs (present study) throughout WM regions of the developing brain. The rate of OL apoptosis in alcohol-exposed brains was 12.7 times higher than the natural OL apoptosis rate. OLs become sensitive to the apoptogenic action of alcohol when they are just beginning to generate constituents of myelin in their cytoplasm, and they remain vulnerable throughout later stages of myelination. There is growing evidence for a similar apoptotic response of both neurons and OLs following exposure of the developing brain to anesthetic and anticonvulsant drugs. Collectively, this body of evidence raises important questions regarding the role that neuro and oligo apoptosis may play in the human condition known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and also poses a question whether other apoptogenic drugs, although long considered safe for pediatric/obstetric use, may have the potential to cause iatrogenic FASD-like developmental disability syndromes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008252 Macaca fascicularis A species of the genus MACACA which typically lives near the coast in tidal creeks and mangrove swamps primarily on the islands of the Malay peninsula. Burmese Long-Tailed Macaque,Crab-Eating Monkey,Cynomolgus Monkey,M. f. aurea,M. fascicularis,Macaca fascicularis aurea,Monkey, Crab-Eating,Monkey, Cynomolgus,Crab-Eating Macaque,Burmese Long Tailed Macaque,Crab Eating Macaque,Crab Eating Monkey,Crab-Eating Macaques,Crab-Eating Monkeys,Cynomolgus Monkeys,Long-Tailed Macaque, Burmese,Macaque, Burmese Long-Tailed,Macaque, Crab-Eating,Monkey, Crab Eating
D009186 Myelin Sheath The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem. Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D009836 Oligodendroglia A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system. Oligodendroglia may be called interfascicular, perivascular, or perineuronal (not the same as SATELLITE CELLS, PERINEURONAL of GANGLIA) according to their location. They form the insulating MYELIN SHEATH of axons in the central nervous system. Interfascicular Oligodendroglia,Oligodendrocytes,Perineuronal Oligodendroglia,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendroglia Cells,Perivascular Oligodendroglia,Satellite Cells, Perineuronal, Oligodendroglia,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendrocytes,Interfascicular Oligodendroglias,Oligodendrocyte,Oligodendrocyte, Perineuronal Satellite,Oligodendrocytes, Perineuronal Satellite,Oligodendroglia, Interfascicular,Oligodendroglia, Perineuronal,Oligodendroglia, Perivascular,Perineuronal Satellite Oligodendrocyte,Satellite Oligodendrocyte, Perineuronal,Satellite Oligodendrocytes, Perineuronal
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D002492 Central Nervous System Depressants A very loosely defined group of drugs that tend to reduce the activity of the central nervous system. The major groups included here are ethyl alcohol, anesthetics, hypnotics and sedatives, narcotics, and tranquilizing agents (antipsychotics and antianxiety agents). CNS Depressants,Depressants, CNS
D004676 Myelin Basic Protein An abundant cytosolic protein that plays a critical role in the structure of multilamellar myelin. Myelin basic protein binds to the cytosolic sides of myelin cell membranes and causes a tight adhesion between opposing cell membranes. Golli-MBP1 Protein,Golli-MBP2 Protein,HOG5 Protein,HOG7 Protein,MBP1 Protein,MBP2 Protein,MBP3 Protein,MBP4 Protein,Myelin Basic Protein, 17.2 kDa Isoform,Myelin Basic Protein, 18.5 kDa Isoform,Myelin Basic Protein, 20.2 kDa Isoform,Myelin Basic Protein, 21.5 kDa Isoform,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 1,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 2,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 3,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 4,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 5,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 6,Myelin Basic Protein, Isoform 7,Golli MBP1 Protein,Golli MBP2 Protein
D000431 Ethanol A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017209 Apoptosis A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth. Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis
D063647 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders An umbrella term used to describe a pattern of disabilities and abnormalities that result from fetal exposure to ETHANOL during pregnancy. It encompasses a phenotypic range that can vary greatly between individuals, but reliably includes one or more of the following: characteristic facial dysmorphism, FETAL GROWTH RETARDATION, central nervous system abnormalities, cognitive and/or behavioral dysfunction, BIRTH DEFECTS. The level of maternal alcohol consumption does not necessarily correlate directly with disease severity. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder,Alcohol-Related Birth Defects,FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effects),FASD,Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,Growth Retardation, Facial Abnormalities, and Central Nervous System Dysfunction,Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,Alcohol Related Birth Defects,Birth Defects, Alcohol-Related,FAEs (Fetal Alcohol Effects),FASDs,Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol

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