The molecular mechanism of ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis during synaptogenesis

Ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis during the synaptogenesis of the brain plays a key role in the mental and behavioral deficits observed in fetal alcohol syndrome. Increasing evidences suggest that ethanol may cause neurodegeneration by increasing free radical production, interfering with the action of some neu-rotransmitter functions or neurotrophic actions, and activating intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway. Another important mechanism involves inhibiting protein synthesis, a recent study shows that the double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase (PKR) mediates ethanol-induced protein synthesis inhibition and neuronal death.