Morphochemical features of sensorimotor cortex and neostriatum neurons in rats with different levels of alcohol preference

Abstract

This paper reports interferometric studies of the contents and concentrations of proteins in the cellular structures of neurons of the sensorimotor cortex (layers III, V) and in the region of the caudate nucleus of the neostriatum (Golgi type II cells) in Wistar rats with high, intermediate, and low levels of ethanol preference. The greatest differences between groups of animals in terms of cell size and protein metabolism were seen in the cortex. Along with measures correlating with initial ethanol preference (cell body size, nucleus size, and cytoplasm size of cortical neurons, cytoplasmic protein content, etc.), a number of measures were found to show statistically significant differences which did not correlate with preference (nuclear protein contents and concentrations in cortical neurons of layers III and V). These data may suggest the existence of another significant measure responsible for the difference between the groups and, possibly, more closely correlated with the analytical-synthetic functions of the central nervous system.

Cytochemical parameters of synaptic neurons in rats with different abilities to learn a food-procuring habit

“…Studies of protein metabolism measures in hippocampus and amygdala neurons using a quite complex behavioral model [12] revealed significant differences in the resuits as compared with those using simple models. This leads to interest in studying the state of protein metabolism in neurons of layers III and V of the sensorimotor cortex in rats with difference learning abilities in conditions of a similar complex food-procuring model, especially since previous studies have demonstrated that synaptic neurons have initially higher levels of cytochemical heterogeneity as compared with structures such as the eaudate nucleus, hippocampus, and basolateral nucleus of the amygdala [6,14]. This leads to interest in studying the state of protein metabolism in neurons of layers III and V of the sensorimotor cortex in rats with difference learning abilities in conditions of a similar complex food-procuring model, especially since previous studies have demonstrated that synaptic neurons have initially higher levels of cytochemical heterogeneity as compared with structures such as the eaudate nucleus, hippocampus, and basolateral nucleus of the amygdala [6,14].…”