当前位置： SCI文献检索 > NEUROSCIENCE期刊下所有文献 > Neuronal loss in functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics with and without Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Neuronal loss in functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics with and without Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Abstract：

:This study examines the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the human cerebellum using operational criteria for case selection [Caine D. et al. (1997) J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 62, 51-60] and unbiased stereological techniques. We describe, for the first time, structural changes in different functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics and correlate these changes with specific clinical symptoms. No consistent changes in the number of neurons or the structural volume for any cerebellar region were observed in the chronic alcoholics without the clinical signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy. In all cerebellar measures, these chronic alcoholics did not differ significantly from the non-alcoholic controls, suggesting that chronic alcohol consumption per se does not necessarily damage human cerebellar tissue. However, several cerebellar changes were noted in the thiamine-deficient alcoholics studied. There was a significant decrease in Purkinje cell density (reduced on average by 43%) and molecular layer volume (reduced by 32%) in the cerebellar vermis in all thiamine-deficient chronic alcoholics. A decrease in cell density and atrophy of the molecular layer, where the dendritic trees of the Purkinje cells are found, without significant cell loss suggests loss of cellular dendritic structure and volume. These thiamine-deficient alcoholics also had a significant decrease (36% loss) in the estimated Purkinje cell number of the flocculi, disrupting vestibulocerebellar pathways. These results indicate that cerebellar Purkinje cells are selectively vulnerable to thiamine deficiency. There is evidence that this damage contributes significantly to the clinical signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy. There was a 36% loss of Purkinje cells in the lateral lobe in alcoholics with mental state signs and 42% atrophy of vermal white matter in ataxic alcoholics. The finding of a 57% loss of Purkinje cells and a 43% atrophy of the molecular layer of the vermis in alcoholics with cerebellar dysfunction supports previous findings highlighting the importance of spinocerebellar pathways to these symptoms.

journal_name

Neuroscience

journal_title

Neuroscience

authors

Baker KG,Harding AJ,Halliday GM,Kril JJ,Harper CG

doi

10.1016/s0306-4522(98)90664-9

keywords:

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

1999-01-01 00:00:00

pages

429-38

issue

eissn

0306-4522

issn

1873-7544

pii

S0306-4522(98)90664-9

journal_volume

pub_type

杂志文章

在线工具

Neuronal loss in functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics with and without Wernicke's encephalopathy.