Alterations of the thalamo-cortical system in rats prenatally exposed to ethanol are prevented by concurrent administration of acetyl- l-carnitine

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 698; no. 1; pp. 241 - 247
• Main Authors: Santarelli, Marialaura, Granato, Alberto, Sbriccoli, Alessandro, Gobbi, Gabriella, Janiri, Luigi, Minciacchi, Diego
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 06.11.1995; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Acetylcarnitine - pharmacology; Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning; Animals; Axon terminals; Biological and medical sciences; Ethanol - pharmacology; Female; Foetal alcohol syndrome; Horseradish Peroxidase; Medical sciences; Microinjections; Nootropic Agents - pharmacology; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Sensorimotor cortex; Somatosensory Cortex - drug effects; Teratogenesis; Thalamus - drug effects; Toxicology; Teratogenesis; Horseradish peroxidase; Sensorimotor cortex; Axon terminals; Foetal alcohol syndrome; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Cerebral cortex; Ethanol; Rat; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Projection; Carnitine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Thalamus; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)00997-5

We previously demonstrated that adult rats prenatally exposed to ethanol display permanent damages of thalamo-cortical connections [18,19,33]. Here the effect of simultaneous administration of ethanol and acetyl- l-carnitine has been investigated. Adult animals underwent cortical or thalamic injections of horseradish peroxidase and both antegrade and retrograde thalamic and cortical labeling have been analyzed. Ethanol-induced changes of thalamo-cortical circuits are prevented by concurrent administration of acetyl- l-carnitine.