Despite of widespread abuse and the presence of vast data about ethanol’s adverse effects on behavior, brain morphology and physiology, molecular mechanism underlying deteriorating effects of chronic ethanol intoxication on the nervous system still remain elusive. The aim of the present study is revisiting the potential effects of adult alcohol insult and/or withdrawal on the protein, nucleic acids, and lipid profi les in the rat hippocampus by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It is a rapid, sensitive and non-disturbing technique which gives information about different functional groups belonging to biomolecules, simultaneously [Garip et al. (2007) Appl Spectrosc]. In the current study the rats were intragastrically administered ethanol at a dose increasing from 4.5 g to12 g/kg for 15 days and then the mean blood alcohol concentration was measured as 605.67 ± 36 mg/dl. FTIR results revealed an increase in the total content of proteins, lipids, as well as amino, fatty, and nucleic acids. Moreover, an increase in lipid disordering and a decrease in membrane fl uidity were obtained. Chronic ethanol intoxication was also found to cause an increase in random coil and aggregated β sheet content indicating structural changes in proteins, such as denaturation. Signifi cant variations in DNA and RNA conformation were observed. These molecular changes are discussed in terms of their potential effects on the neural function.
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