Protective reactivity and alteration of the brain tissue in alcoholics evidenced by SOD1, MMP9 immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy.

Alcohol and its associated oxidative stress is one of the widespread contributors to the brain damage. Matrix metalloproteinases, which are extensively analyzed in brain pathology studies, are not sufficiently investigated in chronic alcohol consumption. This study evaluated regional brain damage caused by oxidative stress. Contribution of metalloproteinase-9 to this affection was evidenced in alcoholic subjects and correlated with ultrastructural changes. The authors found correlation between neuronal expression patterns of superoxide dismutase-1 and metalloproteinase-9 in nigral (r = 0.532, p < 0.001), striatal (r = 0.327, p < 0.001), and cortical (r = 0.306, p < 0.001) regions, and a significant decrease of nigral superoxide dismutase-1 median values accompanied by severe myelin damage.