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In this study we have determined the role of cyclic AMP on the function and differentiation of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) neurons in rat fetal hypothalamic cell cultures. Addition of Bt2cAMP or the cAMP elevating agent, forskolin, in cultures, dose and time dependently increased beta-endorphin secretion. The increased beta-EP secretion after Bt2cAMP or forskolin treatment was associated with proopiomelanocortin gene expression, enhanced neurite growth, and increased neuronal viability. Determination of internucleosomal cleavage of DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that apoptosis occurred in hypothalamic neurons during the first 6-8 days in culture. Addition of Bt2cAMP during this developmental period inhibited DNA degradation in hypothalamic neurons. Furthermore, incubation with various doses of ethanol, which is known to reduce intracellular levels of Bt2cAMP, increased DNA degradation in these cells. Ethanol-induced DNA degradation was blocked by concomitant incubation with Bt2cAMP. Histochemical identification of apoptotic cells following ethanol and Bt2cAMP treatments further revealed that apoptosis occurred in beta-EP neurons during the developmental period, and that ethanol increased and Bt2cAMP reduced apoptotic beta-EP cell numbers. These results suggest that ethanol neurotoxicity on beta-EP neurons during early neuronal differentiation involves an apoptotic process and that the cAMP signaling system plays an important role in controlling apoptosis and differentiation of the beta-EP neuronal system.
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D K Sarkar
August 1993,
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June 1997,
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research,
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M Pastorcic, and
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January 1993,
Endocrinology,
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N I Boyadjieva, and
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D K Sarkar
May 1997,
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research,
A De, and
N I Boyadjieva, and
M Pastorcic, and
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D K Sarkar
June 1990,
Brain research,
A De, and
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M Pastorcic, and
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April 1992,
Brain research. Developmental brain research,
A De, and
N I Boyadjieva, and
M Pastorcic, and
B V Reddy, and
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January 1990,
Life sciences,
A De, and
N I Boyadjieva, and
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B V Reddy, and
D K Sarkar
February 1996,
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research,
A De, and
N I Boyadjieva, and
M Pastorcic, and
B V Reddy, and
D K Sarkar
December 2003,
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
A De, and
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M Pastorcic, and
B V Reddy, and
D K Sarkar
October 1991,
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979),
