Effect of chronic ethanol ingestion on phosphate content of neurofilament proteins and neurofilament associated protein phosphatase in rat spinal cord.

Rats were trained to drink alcohol solution by gradually increasing the ethanol content [2.5-15% (v/v)] in drinking water. After 11 months of alcohol (15% v/v) ingestion, animals were guillotined and the spinal cords were used for the preparation of neurofilaments (NF). NF triplet proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and the phosphate contents of individual components were estimated. Results indicated a significant increase in phosphate content of 200 KD protein in alcohol fed rats (30.19 +/- 4.12 mol of phosphate/mole of protein: p less than 0.001) compared to control group (18.42 +/- 3.91 mol of phosphate/mole of protein). No significant change in the phosphate content of 150KD and 68KD components of NF were seen in experimental group. Further, the studies on NF associated protein phosphatase activity indicated a significant decrease in phosphatase activity among the alcohol fed rats (14.10 +/- 2.5 mU; p less than 0.001) against NF rich fraction as a substrate, as compared to control (20.15 +/- 2.15 mU). While the observed decrease in NF associated protein phosphatase would possibly explain the increase in phosphate content of NF proteins in alcohol fed rats, the precise mechanism of decrease in enzyme activity remains to be elucidated. Nevertheless, the change seen in phosphate content and NF associated protein phosphatase activity as a result of ethanol ingestion would possibly form the biochemical basis of some of the neuropathological changes seen in alcoholics.