Effects of ethanol on postnatal cell acquisition in the rat cerebellum

Cell generation and cell survival were investigated in the cerebellum of young rats exposed to 10% v/v ethanol in drinking water throughout gestation and lactation. At 12 days postpartum, cell cycle parameters in the external granular layer showed no significant change from control values, and the cell acquisition rate was unaffected. However, the external granular layer appeared thicker in ethanol-treated than in control 12-day-old animals, and a significant increase in cell death in the internal granular layer was observed. It is suggested that the effect of ethanol on the developing cerebellum may involve reduction of granule cell number consequent to increased granule cell death, and possibly retarded migration from the proliferating precursor cell pool.