Related Experiment Videos
Chronic ethanol exposure increases microtubule content in PC12 cells
Cindy K Reiter-Funk1, Douglas P Dohrman
1Dept. of Human Anatomy and Medical Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, College Station, TX 77843, USA. creiter@scripps.edu <creiter@scripps.edu>
BMC Neuroscience
|March 15, 2005
Summary
Chronic ethanol exposure increases microtubule content in neuronal cells by altering tubulin polymerization. Protein Kinase C delta (PKCδ) is crucial for this effect, but not for ethanol-induced neurite outgrowth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chronic ethanol exposure alters neuronal cyto-architecture, including neurite outgrowth.
- Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth is modulated by Protein Kinase C (PKC) isoforms, particularly PKCε.
- Neurites rely on microtubules, formed from tubulin polymerization, suggesting a link between ethanol, tubulin dynamics, and neurite outgrowth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic ethanol exposure on microtubule content in PC12 cells.
- To elucidate the roles of PKCε and PKCδ isoforms in mediating ethanol's effects on microtubule levels.
Main Methods:
- PC12 cells (wild-type, vector control, and expressing dominant-negative inhibitors of PKCε and PKCδ) were subjected to chronic ethanol exposure.
- Microtubule and free tubulin content were quantified to assess changes in cytoskeletal dynamics.
Main Results:
- Chronic ethanol exposure significantly increased microtubule content and decreased free tubulin in wild-type and vector control PC12 cells.
- Ethanol increased microtubule content in cells with inhibited PKCε, despite lacking an effect on neurite outgrowth.
- Conversely, ethanol had no effect on microtubule content in cells with inhibited PKCδ.
Conclusions:
- Chronic ethanol exposure shifts the tubulin equilibrium towards microtubule polymerization, impacting the cytoskeleton.
- The delta isoform of Protein Kinase C (PKCδ) is essential for ethanol's effect on microtubule content, but not for neurite outgrowth.
- These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which ethanol affects neuronal structure, potentially contributing to observed cyto-architectural changes.