Ethanol-Induced Decrease of the Expression of Glucose Transport Protein (Glut3) in the Central Nervous System as a Predisposing Condition to Apoptosis
We measured the effect of chronic ethanol administration on the expression of Glut3 in the cerebellum and hippocampus of adult and old rats. Glut3 expression significantly decreased in aging, in ethanol-treated rats vs. age-matched controls, and in adult- vs. old ethanol-treated rats. These findings lend consistent support to the hypothesis that disturbances of glucose metabolism due to ethanol may constitute an unfavorable condition predisposing to neuronal death.
ethanol glut3 cerebellum hippocampus aging cell death brain metabolism