Effects of ethanol on rat schwann cell proliferation and myelination in culture

Abstract

It is possible to treat dissociated embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia in culture to inhibit proliferation of all nonneuronal cells except Schwann cells. Neurons have been shown to produce a mitogenic stimulus for Schwann cells under these conditions. Additionally, myelin-competent neurons induce Schwann cells to elaborate myelin sheaths. Groups of sibling cultures were exposed to various nonlethal concentrations of ethanol (0, 43, 86, or 172 mM) for 4 wk. Cultures were assessed weekly by light microscopy in a blind fashion for evidence of Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation. Ethanol adversely affected both Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation in culture. No obvious differences in neuronal morphology were observed among the various groups of cultures by light or electron microscopy. These observations suggest that ethanol might interfere with Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation in culture by one or both of the following means: a) inhibit neuronal production of signals for Schwann cell proliferation and myelination or b) impede Schwann cell responses to neuronal signals. Investigation of these possibilities in culture may provide insight into neuropathologic mechanisms operative in the fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-associated peripheral neuropathy in humans.

Alcohol‐related peripheral neuropathy: Nutritional, toxic, or both?

“…Histological evidence showed patchy demyelination of motor and mixed nerves, suggestive of Schwann cell dysfunction 8, 9. This finding was supported by an in vitro study of the effects of ethanol in rats, which showed that ethanol affected both Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation 41. These findings imply different structural targets of ethanol in the development of ALN that can lead to either an axonal‐ or a demyelinating‐predominant picture.…”

Association of multiple granular cell tumors and squamous carcinoma of the esophagus: case report and review of the literature

“…Our patient, like others described both in esophageal GCT only or in those associated with cancer, had a history of alcohol abuse; the incidence seems high and may indicate a relationship, based on the evidence of ethanol's influence on Schwann cell proliferation and myelin formation in vitro 16 . Moreover, alcohol is also implied in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma.…”

Effects of Ethanol and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on the Transforming Growth Factor β1 Regulated Proliferation of Cortical Astrocytes and C6 Astrocytoma Cells

“…Such inhibition is also evident among Schwann cells (Mithen et al, 1990), neuroblastoma cells (Luo and Miller, 1997), and neurons (e.g., in vivo: Miller, 1989Miller, , 1999Miller and Kuhn, 1995;Miller and Nowakowski, 1991;in vitro: Jacobs and Miller, 2001). The similar response of both cell types to TGF␤1 and ethanol suggests that the inhibitory effects are mediated through the same signal transduction pathway.…”