Changes of hippocampal neurons after perinatal exposure to ethanol.

The effect of ethanol on the structural development of the central nervous system was studied in offspring of Wistar rats, drinking 20 % ethanol during pregnancy and till the 28th day of their postnatal life. The structural changes in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus were analyzed at the age of 18, 35 and 90 days. A lower width of pyramidal and granular cell layers, cell extinction and fragmentation of numerous nuclei were found in all experimental animals compared to control animals.

Morphological changes in the hippocampus following nicotine and kainic acid administration.

Using histochemical analysis (NADPH-diaphorase, Fluoro-Jade B dye and bis-benzimide 33,342 Hoechst) we studied the influence of intraperitoneal administration of nicotine (NIC), kainic acid (KA) and combination of both these substances on hippocampal neurons and their changes. In experiments, 35-day-old male rats of the Wistar strain were used. Animals were pretreated with 1 mg/kg of nicotine 30 min prior to the kainic acid application (10 mg/kg).

Changes in the number of nitrergic neurons in rats hippocampus following nicotine administration.

Nicotine is a very widely used drug of abuse, which exerts a number of neurovegetative behavioural effects by interacting with the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Using histochemical analysis (NADPH-diaphorase and Fluoro-Jade B dye), the influence of intraperitoneal administration of nicotine on neurons of the hippocampus in 35-day-old male rats of the Wistar strain was studied. At the age of 37 days, the animals were transcardially perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde under deep thiopental anaesthesia.

Alcohol abuse in mothers during gravidity and breastfeeding brings changes of hippocampal neurons in their offspring.

Neurotoxic effect of ethanol on the CNS of laboratory rats in the prenatal and postnatal period was studied. Another aim of the experiment was to analyse structure of the hippocampus after the prenatal and postnatal exposure to alcohol and to identify the most vulnerable hippocampal regions. Pregnant Wistar rats of our own breed received 20% alcohol p.

Repeated kainic acid administration and hippocampal neuronal degeneration.

Many animal models have been established to study the mechanisms leading to excitotoxicity. One of the more commonly used models is kainic acid (KA) induced excitotoxicity. Upon administration of KA in rodents, KA produces acute status epilepticus and neuronal damage.