Morphological changes in neurons of caudate nucleus of rats predisposed to alcohol dependence

We analyzed morphological changes in caudate nucleus of rats, predisposed and not predisposed to formation of alcohol dependence, selected using the method of determining alcohol motivation, based on determining level of total nonspecific reactivity of the organism. Paraffin sections 4-6 pm thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, thionin by Nissl's method, immunohistochemical reactions were performed using monoclonal antibodies against glutamate receptors 2 (GLUR2). In caudate nucleus of rats predisposed to alcohol dependence, morphofunctional differences in structural organization, a significantly greater volumetric density of perikaryon neurons, compared with animals not predisposed to alcoholization, were revealed. In predisposed to alcohol dependence rats immunohistochemical study revealed a higher degree of immunoreactive material expression in neuron perikarya of caudate nucleus, which indicates the presence of immunophenotypic differences and metabolism in glutamateceptive neurons of neostriatum.