Neonatal Alcohol Exposure Differentially Alters Clock Gene Oscillations Within the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Cerebellum, and Liver of Adult Rats

作者：Yuhua Z. Farnell, Gregg C. Allen, Sang‐Soep Nahm, Nichole Neuendorff, James R. West, Wei‐Jung A. Chen, David J. Earnest · 发表于：Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · 年份：2008 · DOI：10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00598.x · 被引用次数：47 · 研究领域：Circadian rhythm and melatonin、Neuroscience of respiration and sleep、Sleep and Wakefulness Research

BACKGROUND: In rats, alcohol exposure during the period of rapid brain growth produces long-term changes in the free-running period, photoentrainment and phase-shifting responses of the circadian rhythm in wheel-running behavior. To determine whether these alterations in circadian behavior are associated with permanent damage to the circadian timekeeping mechanism or reconfiguration of its molecular components, we examined the long-term effects of neonatal alcohol exposure on clock gene rhythms in the pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and in other brain or peripheral tissues of adult rats. METHODS: Artificially reared male rat pups were exposed to alcohol (4.5 g/kg/d) or isocaloric milk formula (gastrostomy control; GC) on postnatal days 4 to 9. At 3 months of age, animals were exposed to constant darkness and then SCN, cerebellum, and liver tissue were harvested at 6-hour intervals for subsequent analysis of Period1 (Per1), Per2, Cryptochrome1 (Cry1), Bmal1, and Rev-erbalpha mRNA levels by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In the SCN, cerebellum and liver, Per1, Per2, Cry1, Bmal1, and Rev-erbalpha expression oscillated with a similar amplitude (peak-to-trough differences of 2- to 9-fold) and phase in the suckle control (SC) and GC groups. These clock gene rhythms in control animals were marked by peak expression of Per1, Per2, Cry1, and Rev-erbalpha during the subjective day and of Bmal1 during the subjective night. The EtOH group was distinguished by altered r...