Ethanol Toxicity in the Brain: Alteration of Astroglial Cell Function

Ethanol consumption has for a long time been associated with brain damage. Experimental studies and necropsy examinations of chronic alcoholics have shown a variety of structural and functional alterations in the neurons as well as in the glial cells. Such alterations are seen also in children with the alcoholic foetal syndrome. Ethanol is known to be a teratogen. Its abusage can result as dysfunction of the central nerve system (CNS), growth deficiency and facial malformation in the fetus, and behavioural, learning, sensory and motor disabilities (Barret et al., 1996; González & Salido, 2009; Šarc & Lipnik-Štangelj, 2009a). Chronic ethanol consumption in the adult is also intimately associated with brain atrophy. Accumulating evidence indicates that ethanol-induced neurobehavioral dysfunctions may be related to disruptions in the patterns of neuronal and glial developments such as depression of neurogenesis, aberrant migration of neurons and alterations in late gliogenesis and neurogenesis. These changes can further reduce the populations of cortical neurons and glial cells, trigger the biochemical alterations in glial cells and deleterious consequences for neuronal-glial interactions, and eventually lead to damage or apoptosis of these cells (González & Salido, 2009; Šarc & Lipnik-Štangelj, 2009b; Sofroniew & Vinters, 2010).