Effects of ethanol on Rhod-2 and Fluo-3 fluorescence in cultured neurons with UCP2 overexpression.

<p>Murine neocortical neurons were cultured for 4 days, followed by infection with lentiviral UCP2 or EV expression vector and subsequent further culture for an additional 4 days. Cells were then loaded with either (A) Rhod-2 or (B) Fluo-3, followed by cumulative addition of NMDA at concentrations of 0.1 to 100 µM in either the presence or absence of 250 mM ethanol. Values are percentages over the maximal fluorescence by A23187 in 3–6 independent determinations. ^#P<0.05, ^##P<0.01, significantly different from the value obtained in cells not exposed to ethanol. Statistical significance was determined according to the 2-way ANOVA test analysis.