Role of MAPK ERK1/2 and p38 in the Realization of Growth Potential of Various Types of Regeneration-Competent Cells in Mouse Neural Tissue during Ethanol-Induced Neurodegeneration In Vitro

Ethanol-induced neurodegeneration was modeled in vitro to study the roles of ERK1/2 and p38 in realization of the growth potential of neural progenitor cells and secretion of neurotrophic growth factors by glial elements. Addition of the neurotoxic dose of C2H5OH (65 mM) to the culture medium abolished the effects of specific ERK1/2 and p38 inhibitors on the formation of colonies (neurospheres) and proliferative activity of neural CFU in cultured cells derived from paraventricular region of the mouse brain. The study established that these protein kinases are not implicated in ethanol-induced stimulation of the formation of neural CFU, differentiation of neural progenitors, and synthesis of humoral functional regulators of neural CFU by glial cells.