Amina S Woods
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurophysiol
Alcohol abuse is characterized as a multi-factorial disorder associated with neurotoxicity that can result in dementia.Studies
have reported pathology in the brain of alcoholics when compared with controls, including cortical atrophy, ventricular
enlargement, and changes in membranes fluidityand white matter degradation. However very few studies are available on
regional imaging of brain lipid. Despite, lipids being major building blocks of cell membrane, playing a key role in cell signaling
and signal transduction and making up half of the brain’s dry weight.
7 weeks old adult mice, in a drinking-in-the-dark paradigm (DID)were fedwater (control) or ethanol (EtOH). The EtOH
group had a daily 4-hour access to a 12% ethanol bottle. Control mice had access to water only. After 52 days, mice were
euthanized 1 hour after ethanol access and brainswere collectedchronically were analyzed.Whole brain lipid extracts were
assayed by electro-spray ionization mass spectrometry using a Thermo Fisher Orbitrap to obtain lipids concentration. All
Ceramides (Cer) increased significantly, while all sphingomyelins (SM) decreased, only a few decreased significantly. Tomap
the distribution and changes of these same lipids, three bregmas (+1.54 mm , -1.70 mm and -5.88 mm)were imaged by Matrix
Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) using a Thermo Fisher Orbitrap, in regions
known to be impacted by alcohol.
Coronal brain sections, were implanted with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)using a NPlanter (Ionwerks,Inc).The particles
size was 6 nm in diameter. The deposition time/brain section was 18 minutes and is highly reproducible.The implanted tissues
were then imaged. Image acquisition was obtained in both positive and negative ion mode. MSn analysis was conducted in
both positive and negative ion mode with CID to confirm lipid assignments and structure.
By imaging, the most prominent changes were found in the same lipid species in the bregma containing the striatum, a
regions known to be impacted by alcohol
The major changes within the 3 bregmas in the distribution of (SM and CER were observed in the striatum, nucleus
accumbens, prelimbic and piriform cortex and to a lesser extent in the primary and secondary motor cortex. In adult rats
brains we saw a significant decrease in SM C18:0/d18:1 with alcohol consumption, however the increase in the corresponding
cerwas notas significant. The bregma containing the hippocampus showsminor changes for SM and Cer and the cerebellum
also shows minorchanges in SM in the piriform cortex with alcohol consumption. Images show that in the adult alcohol group,
grey matter SM (C18:1/d18:1 and C18:0/d18:1) decreased with alcohol consumption.In conclusion, alcohol consumption lead
to a significant decrease in SM (located in the striatum and nucleus accumbens and cortex) and although less localized and
more diffuse a significant increase in CER was noted in the whole brain. Overall the Cer-SM changes were correlated.
