過量飲酒對我們的腦有許多不良影響，它會經由抑制NMDA受體或促進GABA系統來影響我們的認知功能。最近研究指出，齧齒類動物在長期或是高劑量酒精處理下，會抑制其海馬迴內的神經新生和樹突生長，讓動物戒酒則可發現其學習和記憶力受影響。但目前對於這記憶的缺陷是否是因為神經新生受酒精抑制而造成，或是酒精抑制神經新生是否進一步產生其他傷害還不是很清楚。本文中，C57BL/6公鼠將接受不同方式的酒精處理，包括利用長期飲用、腹腔注射、蒸氣暴露等方式，然後再利用5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)及Doublecortin (DCX) 來標定海馬迴的神經新生。實驗結果顯示，只有讓動物暴露三或四天的酒精蒸氣 (百分之四十的酒精揮發氣體) 可以抑制海馬迴的神經新生，而這抑制是專一性的針對神經增生的部分，神經存活並不受到酒精影響。動物的學習記憶力在酒精處理完七週後用Morris水迷宮測試也沒有差異。綜合以上，我們認為短時間的酒精處理只會影響神經增生而不影響神經存活，而且這有限的抑制並不影響學習記憶力的表現。

Binge drinking of alcohol has many harmful effects on our brain. It may inhibit the NMDA receptors or potentiate GABA system to interfere the cognitive function. Recent studies found that prolonged or high dose of alcohol exposure might inhibit neurogenesis and dendritic growth of hippocampus in rodents. Withdrawal from alcohol drinking also showed impaired learning and memory. Whether the inhibited neurogenesis leads to memory deficits or other damage remains unclear. In the present study, male C57BL/6 mice were treated with alcohol by means of drinking, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, or vapor exposure. Hippocampal neurogenesis was examined by 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) or doublecortin (DCX) labeling. Our results demonstrated that hippocampal neurogenesis was inhibited only in those animals that were repeatedly exposed to 40% alcohol vapor for 3 or 4 days. This inhibition was specific to the proliferation phase of neurogenesis, while the neuronal survival was not affected. Learning and memory ability, assessed by Morris water maze test, was not influenced 7 weeks after alcohol exposure. Therefore, we conclude that short period of alcohol exposure only inhibits neuronal proliferation, but not the survival, and that this limited inhibition does not affect learning and memory ability.

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