Ji Ming-Li, Wu Yun-Hong, Qian Zhi-Bin
Department of Physiology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China.
Department of Functional Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, China.
Neural Regen Res. 2015 Jul;10(7):1095-100. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.160101.
Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts the development of normal fetal respiratory function, but whether it perturbs respiratory rhythmical discharge activity is unclear. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) is involved in the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. In the present study, pregnant female rats received drinking water containing alcohol at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8% or 10% (v/v) throughout the gestation period. Slices of the medulla from 2-day-old neonatal rats were obtained to record respiratory rhythmical discharge activity. 5-HT2AR protein and mRNA levels in the pre-Bötzinger complex of the respiratory center were measured by western blot analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Compared with the 0% alcohol group, respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in medullary slices in the 4%, 8% and 10% alcohol groups was decreased, and the reduction was greatest in the 8% alcohol group. Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in the 10% alcohol group was irregular. Thus, 8% was the most effective alcohol concentration at attenuating respiratory rhythmical discharge activity. These findings suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure attenuates respiratory rhythmical discharge activity in neonatal rats by downregulating 5-HT2AR protein and mRNA levels.
产前酒精暴露会干扰正常胎儿呼吸功能的发育，但它是否会扰乱呼吸节律性放电活动尚不清楚。此外，5-羟色胺2A受体（5-HT2AR）是否参与产前酒精暴露的影响也未知。在本研究中，怀孕的雌性大鼠在整个妊娠期饮用含0%、1%、2%、4%、8%或10%（v/v）酒精的饮用水。获取2日龄新生大鼠的延髓切片以记录呼吸节律性放电活动。分别通过蛋白质印迹分析和定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应测量呼吸中枢前包钦格复合体中5-HT2AR蛋白和mRNA水平。与0%酒精组相比，4%、8%和10%酒精组延髓切片中的呼吸节律性放电活动降低，且在8%酒精组中降低幅度最大。10%酒精组的呼吸节律性放电活动不规则。因此，8%是减弱呼吸节律性放电活动最有效的酒精浓度。这些发现表明，产前酒精暴露通过下调5-HT2AR蛋白和mRNA水平减弱新生大鼠的呼吸节律性放电活动。
