The effect of ethanol on the number of cells in the cochlear nucleus of the male adult rat: A stereological study

Abstract

The effects of ethanol consumption on the means of total neuron numbers in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of male adult rats were investigated by using the disector/fractionator technique to make a precise and unbiased estimate of the total number of neurons in the CN. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control, 10%, 25%, 35% ethanol-consuming groups and four parallel groups given vitamin E in addition to the ethanol. The total number of neurons was significantly decreased by 11.9%, 26.4%, 46.3% in left VCN, 12.7%, 33.6%, 46.5% in right VCN, 8.5%, 32.3%, 49.1% in left DCN, 11.0%, 32.9%, 51.0% in right DCN in rats consuming 10%, 25%, and 35% ethanol, respectively. The administration of vitamin E (100 mg/kg/day i.p) to ethanol consuming rats for 20 days partially prevented ethanol-induced cell death in both subdivisions of CN. The results of the present study imply that the CN of adult rats is susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of ethanol and that these effects can be partially blocked by vitamin E.