Mechanisms of pathological influence of parent alcoholism on the progeny: possible means of prophylaxis

• Published in: Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) Supplement. Vol. 1; p. 443
• Main Authors: Anokhina, I P, Ovchinnikova, L N, Shamakina IYu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 1991
• Subjects: Alcoholism - enzymology; Alcoholism - genetics; Alcoholism - metabolism; Animals; Biogenic Amines - metabolism; Blood Platelets - enzymology; Brain - enzymology; Brain - metabolism; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Female; Genes, fos; Glucosamine - blood; Male; Monoamine Oxidase - blood; Phenethylamines - blood; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Serotonin - blood; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 1358-6173

Mechanisms of genetically determined alcoholic motivation were studied in chronically alcohol-treated rats and their offsprings by biochemical and genetic approaches. Stimulation of the activity of membrane-bound monoamine oxidases, (e.g. in thrombocytes, brain), modification of their catalytic properties, partial solubilisation and increased sensitivity towards transitory inhibiting effect of ethanol were detected in chronically alcohol-treated rats and especially in their offsprings which were not chronically alcohol-treated. Altered content of biogenic amines in brain and disturbances of behaviour accompanied the impairments in functions of monoamine oxidases. Administration of ethanol was required to normalise the disturbances in biochemical parameters studied. Presence of ethanol in tissues may be considered as a molecular basis for development of alcoholic motivation in off-springs of chronically alcohol-treated animals. The described above biochemical alterations in the offsprings were prevented by treatment of their parents (during alcoholization) with a compound of plant origin. A distinct increase in expression of c-fos gene in brain cortex was observed in offsprings of chronically alcohol-treated rats after administration of ethanol. The impairments in regulation of c-fos gene activity in offsprings suggest that chronic alcohol treatment of animals may influence functions of genome of their offsprings which were not subjected to chronic alcohol treatment.