Lactational alcohol exposure elicits long-term immune deficits and increased noradrenergic synaptic transmission in lymphoid organs.

Abstract	Increasing evidence suggests that the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in immunomodulation. While chronic alcohol consumption has been associated with immune deficits, the effects of exposure to alcohol during early postnatal life on subsequent immunocompetence and activity of sympathetic neurons in lymphoid organs are not known. This study examined the long-term effects of lactational alcohol consumption on cellular immune responses and noradrenergic synaptic transmission in lymphoid and other organs of the young adult C57BL/6 mouse. The data show that exposure to alcohol via the mother's milk was associated with long-term deficits in cellular immunity, including suppression of the local graft vs host and contact hypersensitivity responses. The animals also displayed enhanced noradrenergic synaptic transmission and decreased beta-adrenoceptor density selectively in lymphoid organs. These neuroimmune changes are particularly striking since body weight-gain of the suckling pups was normal and their blood alcohol concentration was considerably lower than that of the alcohol-consuming dam. This suggests an increased sensitivity of the nascent immune and nervous systems during the critical period of early postnatal development.
Authors	Z Gottesfeld, S J LeGrue
Journal	Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 47 Issue 5 Pg. 457-65 ( 1990) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
PMID	2168512 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References	Receptors, Adrenergic, beta Ethanol Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol Norepinephrine
Topics	Animals Binding Sites (drug effects) Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Dermatitis, Contact Drug Hypersensitivity Ethanol (adverse effects) Female Graft vs Host Reaction (drug effects) Immunity, Cellular (drug effects) Lactation Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (metabolism) Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Myocardium (metabolism) Norepinephrine (metabolism) Receptors, Adrenergic, beta (drug effects) Spleen (drug effects, metabolism) Thymus Gland (drug effects, metabolism) Weight Gain (drug effects)

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