Alcohol withdrawal causes a loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells in mice.

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Abstract
Mice received a liquid diet containing alcohol for 4 mo., after which half of them were sacrificed and the others given a 4-mo. recovery period before being sacrificed. They were compared with similar mice receiving the diet with alcohol replaced isocalorically by sucrose. No damage was detected in the cerebellum during alcohol consumption, but the number of Purkinje cells was significantly reduced in the recovery period. The experiment was repeated twice with mice consuming a normal diet but exposed to alcohol vapor. The 1st group was exposed to alcohol vapor 24 h/day for 3 wk and then given alternating 1-wk periods of recovery and exposure 24 h/day until a total of 6 wk of exposure to alcohol vapor and four 1-wk recovery periods were experienced. They were compared with similar mice exposed to alcohol vapor 24 h/day for 6 wk without a recovery period. The 2nd group was exposed to alcohol vapor 9 h/day for 3 wk, when part of the group was given a 3-wk recovery period. In both experiments, damage was not detected in the cerebellum during alcohol exposure, but in mice withdrawn from alcohol, the number of Purkinje cells was reduced and qualitative evidence of neuronal degeneration was found with a silver stain. In a further group of mice, exposure to alcohol vapor was tapered off gradually, and no evidence of neuronal loss was found. Indications in the literature that withdrawal from alcohol can cause brain damage are briefly reviewed.

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