The neuroprotective effect of acute moderate alcohol consumption on caspase-3 mediated neuroapoptosis in traumatic brain injury: The role of lysosomal cathepsin L and nitric oxide

• Published in: Gene 2013-01, Vol.512 (2), p.492-495
• Main Authors: Kanbak, Gungor, Kartkaya, Kazım, Ozcelik, Eda, Guvenal, Ahmet Burak, Kabay, Sibel Canbaz, Arslan, Gul, Durmaz, Ramazan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; brain; Brain Injuries - metabolism; Brain Injuries - pathology; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase-3; Cathepsin L; Cathepsin L - metabolism; Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology; enzyme activity; ethanol; Ethanol - pharmacology; Lysosomes - metabolism; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; neuroprotective effect; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Traumatic brain injury
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.10.012

Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of moderate acute alcohol administration on cysteine protease mediated neuronal apoptosis and nitric oxide production in the traumatic brain injury. A total of 29 adult Sprague–Dawley male rats weighing 250–300g were used. The rats were allocated into four groups. The first group was the control (sham-operated) group in which only a craniotomy was performed, the others were alcohol, trauma and trauma+alcohol groups. Caspase-3 enzyme activity in the trauma group increased significantly in comparison with the control group. The alcohol given group showed a decreased caspase-3 enzyme activity compared to the trauma group. The level of caspase-3 enzyme activity in the alcohol+trauma group decreased in comparison to the trauma group. SF/FEL ratio of cathepsin-L enzyme activity in the trauma group was significantly higher than in the control group. Our results indicate that moderate alcohol consumption may have protective effects on apoptotic cell death after traumatic brain injury. Protective effects of moderate ethanol consumption might be related to inhibition of lysosomal protease release and nitric oxide production. ► Moderate alcohol consumption has cytoprotective effect on traumatic brain injury. ► Protective effect of moderate alcohol can be related to inhibition of NO production. ► Lysosomal protease release is inhibited by moderate ethanol consumption.