Derangement of astrogliogenesis as a possible mechanism involved in alcohol-induced alterations of central nervous system development.

We have postulated that the brain alterations observed after "in utero" alcohol exposure could be due, in part, to a direct effect of ethanol on astrogliogenesis. In the present work we summarize the main findings concerning the effect of prenatal exposure to alcohol on astrocytes in primary culture. We have found that this treatment alters astrocyte growth and the content and synthesis of DNA and proteins. However, "in utero" exposure to ethanol also causes important alterations in the astrocyte cytoskeleton which could be related to an alteration in the amount and activity of several plasma membrane glycoproteins. These results agree with ones obtained "in vivo" and suggest that ethanol-induced alterations in astrogliogenesis could be an important mechanism underlying the CNS disfunctions observed after prenatal exposure to ethanol.