Effects of ethanol on cultured fetal astroglia.

This study investigated the effects of a 4-day ethanol exposure on cultured rhombencephalic astroglia. The contents of astroglial protein and DNA, and astroglial uptake of serotonin (5-HT) were determined. Fetal rhombencephalic astroglia were examined because of this laboratory's evidence that in utero ethanol exposure markedly impairs the development of serotonergic neurons, which are located in this fetal brain area, and because of the recently demonstrated importance of local support glia in neuronal development. The results of these experiments demonstrated that protein was significantly reduced in astroglia cultured in ethanol at either 150 or 300 mg/dl. In addition, these astroglia exhibited decreased [3H]5-HT uptake per well. However, no significant ethanol-associated differences were detected when [3H]5-HT uptake was expressed per mg protein rather than per well. In contrast to the effects of a 4-day ethanol exposure, the acute ethanol exposure did not significantly alter astroglial uptake of [3H]5-HT/well. In addition, the 4-day exposure to 50 to 300 mg/dl of ethanol did not significantly alter astroglial DNA content. In summary, it appears that a 4-day exposure of cultured fetal rhombencephalic astroglia to 150 to 300 mg/dl of ethanol reduces astroglial protein content and astroglial 5-HT uptake. A reduction in total astroglial proteins, potentially including those that act as essential growth factors, could contribute to some of the ethanol-associated alterations in central nervous system development.