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Fraize J, Leprince Y, Elmaleh-Bergès M, Kerdreux E, Delorme R, Hertz-Pannier L, Lefèvre J, Germanaud D. Spectral-based thickness profiling of the corpus callosum enhances anomaly detection in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1289013. [PMID: 38027471 PMCID: PMC10657855 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1289013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) range from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) to non-syndromic forms (NS-FASD). The neuroanatomical consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure are mainly the reduction in brain size, but also focal abnormalities such as those of the corpus callosum (CC). We previously showed a narrowing of the CC for brain size, using manual measurement and its usefulness to improve diagnostic certainty. Our aim was to automate these measurements of the CC and identify more recurrent abnormalities in FAS subjects, independently of brain size reduction. Methods We developed a fast, automated, and normalization-free method based on spectral analysis to generate thicknesses of the CC continuously and at singular points (genu, body, isthmus, and splenium), and its length (LCC). We applied it on midsagittal section of the CC extracted from T1-anatomical brain MRI of 89 subjects with FASD (52 FAS, 37 NS-FASD) and 126 with typically development (6-20 y-o). After adjusting for batch effect, we compared the mean profiles and thicknesses of the singular points across the 3 groups. For each parameter, we established variations with age (growth charts) and brain size in the control group (scaling charts), then identified participants with abnormal measurements (<10th percentile). Results We confirmed the slimming of the posterior half of the CC in both FASD groups, and of the genu section in the FAS group, compared to the control group. We found a significant group effect for the LCC, genu, median body, isthmus, and splenium thicknesses (p < 0.05). We described a body hump whose morphology did not differ between groups. According to the growth charts, there was an excess of FASD subjects with abnormal LCC and isthmus, and of FAS subjects with abnormal genu and splenium. According to the scaling charts, this excess remained only for LCC, isthmus and splenium, undersized for brain size. Conclusion We characterized size-independent anomalies of the posterior part of the CC in FASD, with an automated method, confirming and extending our previous study. Our new tool brings the use of a neuroanatomical criterion including CC damage closer to clinical practice. Our results suggest that an FAS signature identified in NS-FASD, could improve diagnosis specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fraize
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d’études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Yann Leprince
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d’études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Monique Elmaleh-Bergès
- Department of Pediatric Radiologic, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Eliot Kerdreux
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d’études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Hertz-Pannier
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d’études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Lefèvre
- Institut de Neurosciences de La Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - David Germanaud
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d’études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Genetics, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
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Fraize J, Convert G, Leprince Y, Sylvestre-Marconville F, Kerdreux E, Auzias G, Lefèvre J, Delorme R, Elmaleh-Bergès M, Hertz-Pannier L, Germanaud D. Mapping corpus callosum surface reduction in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders with sulci and connectivity-based parcellation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1188367. [PMID: 37360177 PMCID: PMC10288872 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1188367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) range from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) to non-syndromic non-specific forms (NS-FASD) that are still underdiagnosed and could benefit from new neuroanatomical markers. The main neuroanatomical manifestation of prenatal alcohol exposure on developmental toxicity is the reduction in brain size, but repeated imaging observations have long driven the attention on the corpus callosum (CC), without being all convergent. Our study proposed a new segmentation of the CC that relies on both a sulci-based cortical segmentation and the "hemispherotopic" organization of the transcallosal fibers. Methods We collected a monocentric series of 37 subjects with FAS, 28 with NS-FASD, and 38 with typical development (6 to 25 years old) using brain MRI (1.5T). Associating T1- and diffusion-weighted imaging, we projected a sulci-based cortical segmentation of the hemispheres on the midsagittal section of the CC, resulting in seven homologous anterior-posterior parcels (frontopolar, anterior and posterior prefrontal, precentral, postcentral, parietal, and occipital). We measured the effect of FASD on the area of callosal and cortical parcels by considering age, sex, and brain size as linear covariates. The surface proportion of the corresponding cortical parcel was introduced as an additional covariate. We performed a normative analysis to identify subjects with an abnormally small parcel. Results All callosal and cortical parcels were smaller in the FASD group compared with controls. When accounting for age, sex, and brain size, only the postcentral (η2 = 6.5%, pFDR = 0.032) callosal parcel and % of the cortical parcel (η2 = 8.9%, pFDR = 0.007) were still smaller. Adding the surface proportion (%) of the corresponding cortical parcel to the model, only the occipital parcel was persistently reduced in the FASD group (η2 = 5.7%, pFDR = 0.014). In the normative analysis, we found an excess of subjects with FASD with abnormally small precentral and postcentral (peri-isthmic) and posterior-splenial parcels (pFDR < 0.05). Conclusion The objective sulcal and connectivity-based method of CC parcellation proved to be useful not only in confirming posterior-splenial damage in FASD but also in the narrowing of the peri-isthmic region strongly associated with a specific size reduction in the corresponding postcentral cortical region (postcentral gyrus). The normative analysis showed that this type of callosal segmentation could provide a clinically relevant neuroanatomical endophenotype, even in NS-FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fraize
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Gabrielle Convert
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Yann Leprince
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Florent Sylvestre-Marconville
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eliot Kerdreux
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Auzias
- Institut de Neurosciences de La Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Julien Lefèvre
- Institut de Neurosciences de La Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Monique Elmaleh-Bergès
- Department of Pediatric Radiologic, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Hertz-Pannier
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Genetics, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
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Wen W, Li H, Luo J. Potential Role of MANF, an ER Stress Responsive Neurotrophic Factor, in Protecting Against Alcohol Neurotoxicity. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2992-3015. [PMID: 35254650 PMCID: PMC10928853 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02786-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is harmful to the fetus and causes a wide range of long-lasting physiological and neurocognitive impairments, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The neurobehavioral deficits observed in FASD result from structural and functional damages in the brain, with neurodegeneration being the most destructive consequence. Currently, there are no therapies for FASD. It is exigent to delineate the underlying mechanisms of alcohol neurotoxicity and develop an effective strategy of treatment. ER stress, caused by the accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the ER, is the hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, including alcohol-induced neurodegeneration. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a newly discovered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responsive neurotrophic factor that regulates diverse neuronal functions. This review summarizes the recent findings revealing the effects of MANF on the CNS and its protective role against neurodegeneration. Particularly, we focus the role of MANF on alcohol-induced ER stress and neurodegeneration and discuss the therapeutic potential of MANF in treating alcohol neurotoxicity such as FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wen
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Jia Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
- Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA.
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4
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Brown J, Jonason A, Asp E, McGinn V, Carter MN, Spiller V, Jozan A. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and confabulation in psycholegal settings: A beginner's guide for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal interviewers. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2022; 40:46-86. [PMID: 34689366 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are neurodevelopmental/neurobehavioral conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Impairments caused by PAE contribute to the over-representation of individuals with FASD in the United States juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. These same impairments can equally impact on individuals with FASD who are witnesses to or victims of crime who also have to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system. Difficulties include increased susceptibility to confabulation throughout the legal process that, in turn, can contribute to increased rates of poor outcomes including false confessions and wrongful convictions. Individuals with FASD are particularity at risk of confabulation when they are subjected to tactics, such as stressful and anxiety-provoking situations, threats, and leading, suggestive, or coercive questioning. Many professionals in the forensic context are unfamiliar with FASD or related confabulation risk and may unintentionally utilize tactics that intensify impacts of pre-existing impairment. This article serves as a beginner's guide for professionals working in criminal justice settings by (a) providing research-based overviews of FASD and confabulation, (b) describing how FASD may lead to confabulation, and (c) suggesting ways that professionals can modify protocols when interacting with individuals with FASD. Suggestions in this article hold the potential to decrease the risk of confabulation in the criminal justice system and decrease problematic outcomes, such as false confessions and wrongful convictions among individuals with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrod Brown
- Pathways Counseling Center, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alec Jonason
- Department of Psychology, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Wesley & Lorene Artz Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Erik Asp
- Department of Psychology, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Wesley & Lorene Artz Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Valerie McGinn
- The FASD Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Megan N Carter
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Social and Health Services, Special Commitment Center, Steilacoom, Washington, USA
| | | | - Amy Jozan
- American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Lo HF, Hong M, Krauss RS. Concepts in Multifactorial Etiology of Developmental Disorders: Gene-Gene and Gene-Environment Interactions in Holoprosencephaly. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:795194. [PMID: 35004690 PMCID: PMC8727999 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.795194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many common developmental disorders are thought to arise from a complex set of genetic and environmental risk factors. These factors interact with each other to affect the strength and duration of key developmental signaling pathways, thereby increasing the possibility that they fail to achieve the thresholds required for normal embryonic patterning. One such disorder, holoprosencephaly (HPE), serves as a useful model system in understanding various forms of multifactorial etiology. Genomic analysis of HPE cases, epidemiology, and mechanistic studies of animal models have illuminated multiple potential ways that risk factors interact to produce adverse developmental outcomes. Among these are: 1) interactions between driver and modifier genes; 2) oligogenic inheritance, wherein each parent provides predisposing variants in one or multiple distinct loci; 3) interactions between genetic susceptibilities and environmental risk factors that may be insufficient on their own; and 4) interactions of multiple genetic variants with multiple non-genetic risk factors. These studies combine to provide concepts that illuminate HPE and are also applicable to additional disorders with complex etiology, including neural tube defects, congenital heart defects, and oro-facial clefting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Fan Lo
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mingi Hong
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Robert S Krauss
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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6
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Andre QR, McMorris CA, Kar P, Ritter C, Gibbard WB, Tortorelli C, Lebel C. Different brain profiles in children with prenatal alcohol exposure with or without early adverse exposures. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:4375-4385. [PMID: 32659051 PMCID: PMC7502833 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can alter brain development and impact mental health outcomes, and often occurs in conjunction with postnatal adversity (e.g., maltreatment). However, it is unclear how postnatal adverse exposures may moderate mental health and brain outcomes in children with PAE. T1‐weighted and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging were obtained from 66 participants aged 7–16 years. Twenty‐one participants had PAE and adverse postnatal exposures (PAE+), 12 had PAE without adverse postnatal exposures (PAE−), and 33 were age‐ and gender‐matched controls unexposed to either prenatal alcohol or postnatal adversity. Internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms were assessed using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children II, Parent‐Rating Scale. ANCOVAs were used to compare mental health symptoms, limbic and prefrontal cortical volumes, and diffusion parameters of cortico‐limbic white matter tracts between groups, and to assess brain‐mental health relationships. Both PAE groups had worse externalizing behavior (higher scores) than controls. The PAE− group had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the bilateral cingulum and left uncinate fasciculus, and smaller volumes in the left anterior cingulate cortex than controls and the PAE+ group. The PAE− group also had higher mean diffusivity (MD) in the left uncinate than the PAE+ group, and smaller right anterior cingulate and superior frontal gyrus volumes than controls. These findings show different brain structure and mental health symptom profiles in children with PAE with and without postnatal adversity, highlighting the need to consider adverse postnatal exposures in individuals with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn R Andre
- Medical Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carly A McMorris
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,School & Applied Child Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Preeti Kar
- Medical Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Chantel Ritter
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,School & Applied Child Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - W Ben Gibbard
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christina Tortorelli
- Department of Child Studies and Social Work, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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7
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Sullivan EV, Moore EM, Lane B, Pohl KM, Riley EP, Pfefferbaum A. Graded Cerebellar Lobular Volume Deficits in Adolescents and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4729-4746. [PMID: 32133485 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive prenatal developmental growth period of the cerebellum renders it vulnerable to unhealthy environmental agents, especially alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is marked by neurodysmorphology including cerebral and cerebellar volume deficits, but the cerebellar lobular deficit profile has not been delineated. Legacy MRI data of 115 affected and 59 unaffected adolescents and young adults were analyzed for lobular gray matter volume and revealed graded deficits supporting a spectrum of severity. Graded deficits were salient in intracranial volume (ICV), where the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) group was smaller than the fetal alcohol effects (FAE) group, which was smaller than the controls. Adjusting for ICV, volume deficits were present in VIIB and VIIIA of the FAE group and were more widespread in FAS and included lobules I, II, IV, V, VI, Crus II, VIIB, and VIIIA. Graded deficits (FAS < FAE) were consistently present in lobules VI; neither group showed volume deficits in Crus I or IX. Neuroradiological readings blind to diagnosis identified 20 anomalies, 8 involving the cerebellum, 5 of which were in the FAS group. We speculate that the regional cerebellar FASD-related volume deficits may contribute to diagnostically characteristic functional impairment involving emotional control, visuomotor coordination, and postural stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Barton Lane
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kilian M Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Edward P Riley
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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8
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Cardini A. Modern morphometrics and the study of population differences: Good data behind clever analyses and cool pictures? Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 303:2747-2765. [PMID: 32220106 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The study of phenotypic variation in time and space is central to evolutionary biology. Modern geometric morphometrics is the leading family of methods for the quantitative analysis of biological forms. This set of techniques relies heavily on technological innovation for data acquisition, often in the form of 2D or 3D digital images, and on powerful multivariate statistical tools for their analysis. However, neither the most sophisticated device for computerized imaging nor the best statistical test can produce accurate, robust and reproducible results, if it is not based on really good samples and an appropriate use of the 'measurements' extracted from the data. Using examples mostly from my own work on mammal craniofacial variation and museum specimens, I will show how easy it is to forget these most basic assumptions, while focusing heavily on analytical and visualization methods, and much less on the data that generate potentially powerful analyses and visually appealing diagrams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cardini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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9
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Inkelis SM, Moore EM, Bischoff-Grethe A, Riley EP. Neurodevelopment in adolescents and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): A magnetic resonance region of interest analysis. Brain Res 2020; 1732:146654. [PMID: 31930998 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental trajectory in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) has not been well characterized. We examined age-related differences in the volume of the corpus callosum, basal ganglia, and cerebellum across adolescence and young adulthood, due to the sensitivity of these regions to prenatal alcohol exposure. T1-weighted anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI) were acquired from a cross-sectional sample of subjects 13-30 years old who had received an alcohol-related diagnosis (FASD, n = 107) and typically developing controls (CON, n = 56). FreeSurfer v5.3 was used to obtain volumetric data for the corpus callosum, caudate, putamen, pallidum, and cerebellum. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the effects of group (FASD, CON), sex, and age on region volume. Data were analyzed with and without correction for intracranial volume (ICV). All subregions were significantly smaller in the FASD group compared to controls, and these findings persisted even after ICV correction. Furthermore, the FASD and control groups differed in their relationship between age and total volume of the corpus callosum, caudate, and cerebellum. Specifically, older FASD individuals had smaller total volume in these regions; this relationship was not seen in the control group. Control males demonstrated larger volumes than control females in all regions prior to ICV correction; however, sex differences were attenuated in the FASD group in both the pallidum and cerebellum. Sex differences remained after ICV correction in the pallidum and cerebellum. These cross-sectional findings suggest that at least some brain regions may become smaller at an earlier than expected age in individuals with FASD, and that sex is an important factor to consider when examining neural structures in FASD. Further evaluation is necessary using longitudinal methods and including older ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Inkelis
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | | | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
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10
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Ghazi Sherbaf F, Aarabi MH, Hosein Yazdi M, Haghshomar M. White matter microstructure in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: A systematic review of diffusion tensor imaging studies. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:1017-1036. [PMID: 30289588 PMCID: PMC6865781 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has revolutionized our understanding of the neural underpinnings of alcohol teratogenesis. This technique can detect alterations in white matter in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Using Prisma guidelines, we identified 23 DTI studies conducted on individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). These studies confirm the widespread nature of brain damage in PAE by reporting diffusivity alterations in commissural, association, and projection fibers; and in relation to increasing cognitive impairment. Reduced integrity in terms of lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) is reported more consistently in the corpus callosum, cerebellar peduncles, cingulum, and longitudinal fasciculi connecting frontal and temporoparietal regions. Although these interesting results provide insight into FASD neuropathology, it is important to investigate the clinical diversity of this disorder for better treatment options and prediction of progression. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of different patterns of neural structure between PAE and typically developed individuals. We further discuss the association of alterations in diffusivity with demographic features and symptomatology of PAE. With the accumulated knowledge of the neural correlates of FASD presenting symptoms, a comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity in FASD will potentially improve the disease management and will highlight the diagnostic challenges and potential areas of future research avenues, where neural markers may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Meisam Hosein Yazdi
- Namazee Hospital, Imaging Research Center, Department of RadiologyShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
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11
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Wozniak JR, Mueller BA, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Jones KL, Boys CJ, Lim KO, Riley EP, Sowell ER. Functional connectivity abnormalities and associated cognitive deficits in fetal alcohol Spectrum disorders (FASD). Brain Imaging Behav 2018; 11:1432-1445. [PMID: 27734306 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-016-9624-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Consistent with well-documented structural and microstructural abnormalities in prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), recent studies suggest that functional connectivity (FC) may also be disrupted. We evaluated whole-brain FC in a large multi-site sample, examined its cognitive correlates, and explored its potential to objectively identify neurodevelopmental abnormality in individuals without definitive dysmorphic features. Included were 75 children with PAE and 68 controls from four sites. All participants had documented heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. All underwent a formal evaluation of physical anomalies and dysmorphic facial features. MRI data were collected using modified matched protocols on three platforms (Siemens, GE, and Philips). Resting-state FC was examined using whole-brain graph theory metrics to characterize each individual's connectivity. Although whole-brain FC metrics did not discriminate prenatally-exposed from unexposed overall, atypical FC (> 1 standard deviation from the grand mean) was significantly more common (2.7 times) in the PAE group vs. CONTROLS In a subset of 55 individuals (PAE and controls) whose dysmorphology examination could not definitively characterize them as either Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or non-FAS, atypical FC was seen in 27 % of the PAE group, but 0 % of controls. Across participants, a 1 % difference in local network efficiency was associated with a 36 point difference in global cognitive functioning. Whole-brain FC metrics have potential to identify individuals with objective neurodevelopmental abnormalities from prenatal alcohol exposure. When applied to individuals unable to be classified as FAS or non-FAS from dysmorphology alone, these measures separate prenatally-exposed from non-exposed with high specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Bryon A Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth L Jones
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Christopher J Boys
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Procrustes-based geometric morphometrics on MRI images: An example of inter-operator bias in 3D landmarks and its impact on big datasets. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197675. [PMID: 29787586 PMCID: PMC5963746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Using 3D anatomical landmarks from adult human head MRIs, we assessed the magnitude of inter-operator differences in Procrustes-based geometric morphometric analyses. An in depth analysis of both absolute and relative error was performed in a subsample of individuals with replicated digitization by three different operators. The effect of inter-operator differences was also explored in a large sample of more than 900 individuals. Although absolute error was not unusual for MRI measurements, including bone landmarks, shape was particularly affected by differences among operators, with up to more than 30% of sample variation accounted for by this type of error. The magnitude of the bias was such that it dominated the main pattern of bone and total (all landmarks included) shape variation, largely surpassing the effect of sex differences between hundreds of men and women. In contrast, however, we found higher reproducibility in soft-tissue nasal landmarks, despite relatively larger errors in estimates of nasal size. Our study exemplifies the assessment of measurement error using geometric morphometrics on landmarks from MRIs and stresses the importance of relating it to total sample variance within the specific methodological framework being used. In summary, precise landmarks may not necessarily imply negligible errors, especially in shape data; indeed, size and shape may be differentially impacted by measurement error and different types of landmarks may have relatively larger or smaller errors. Importantly, and consistently with other recent studies using geometric morphometrics on digital images (which, however, were not specific to MRI data), this study showed that inter-operator biases can be a major source of error in the analysis of large samples, as those that are becoming increasingly common in the 'era of big data'.
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13
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Perez KE, King-Heiden TC. Geometric Morphometrics as a Tool to Evaluate Teratogenic Effects in Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1797:373-391. [PMID: 29896704 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7883-0_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Geometric morphometrics allows for the characterization of shape using Cartesian geometric coordinates rather than linear or volumetric measurements, which are dependent upon size and are insufficient to capture geometric shape. By using landmarks on specimens, variations in position, orientation and scale between specimens can be removed to better compare variations in shape. This method has primarily been used in the fields of evolutionary biology and taxonomy. Here we describe how geometric morphometrics can be used to delineate variations in shape caused by teratogenic compounds in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Perez
- Department of Biology, University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Tisha C King-Heiden
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA.
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14
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Ruisch IH, Dietrich A, Glennon JC, Buitelaar JK, Hoekstra PJ. Maternal substance use during pregnancy and offspring conduct problems: A meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 84:325-336. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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15
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Pal S, Woods RP, Panjiyar S, Sowell E, Narr KL, Joshi SH. A Riemannian Framework for Linear and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis on the Tangent Space of Shapes. CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER VISION AND PATTERN RECOGNITION WORKSHOPS. IEEE COMPUTER SOCIETY CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER VISION AND PATTERN RECOGNITION. WORKSHOPS 2017; 2017:726-734. [PMID: 29201534 PMCID: PMC5710852 DOI: 10.1109/cvprw.2017.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present a Riemannian framework for linear and quadratic discriminant classification on the tangent plane of the shape space of curves. The shape space is infinite dimensional and is constructed out of square root velocity functions of curves. We introduce the notion of mean and covariance of shape-valued random variables and samples from a tangent space to the pre-shapes (invariant to translation and scaling) and then extend it to the full shape space (rotational invariance). The shape observations from the population are approximated by coefficients of a Fourier basis of the tangent space. The algorithms for linear and quadratic discriminant analysis are then defined using reduced dimensional features obtained by projecting the original shape observations on to the truncated Fourier basis. We show classification results on synthetic data and shapes of cortical sulci, corpus callosum curves, as well as facial midline curve profiles from patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Susovan Pal
- UCLA Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roger P Woods
- UCLA Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Suchit Panjiyar
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katherine L Narr
- UCLA Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shantanu H Joshi
- UCLA Brain Mapping Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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16
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Nguyen VT, Chong S, Tieng QM, Mardon K, Galloway GJ, Kurniawan ND. Radiological studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in humans and animal models: An updated comprehensive review. Magn Reson Imaging 2017. [PMID: 28645698 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders encompass a wide range of birth defects in children born to mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Typical mental impairments in FASD include difficulties in life adaptation and learning and memory, deficits in attention, visuospatial skills, language and speech disabilities, mood disorders and motor disabilities. Multimodal imaging methods have enabled in vivo studies of the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the central nervous system, giving more insight into the FASD phenotype. This paper offers an up-to-date comprehensive review of radiological findings in the central nervous system in studies of prenatal alcohol exposure in both humans and translational animal models, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography, Single Photon Emission Tomography and Ultrasonography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Nguyen
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Suyinn Chong
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Quang M Tieng
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karine Mardon
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham J Galloway
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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17
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Newville J, Valenzuela CF, Li L, Jantzie LL, Cunningham LA. Acute oligodendrocyte loss with persistent white matter injury in a third trimester equivalent mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Glia 2017; 65:1317-1332. [PMID: 28518477 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol exposure during central nervous system (CNS) development can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Human imaging studies have revealed significant white matter (WM) abnormalities linked to cognitive impairment in children with FASD; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we evaluated both the acute and long-term impacts of alcohol exposure on oligodendrocyte number and WM integrity in a third trimester-equivalent mouse model of FASD, in which mouse pups were exposed to alcohol during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. Our results demonstrate a 58% decrease in the number of mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) and a 75% decrease in the number of proliferating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) within the corpus callosum of alcohol-exposed mice at postnatal day 16 (P16). Interestingly, neither mature OLs nor OPCs derived from the postnatal subventricular zone (SVZ) were numerically affected by alcohol exposure, indicating heterogeneity in susceptibility based on OL ontogenetic origin. Although mature OL and proliferating OPC numbers recovered by postnatal day 50 (P50), abnormalities in myelin protein expression and microstructure within the corpus callosum of alcohol-exposed subjects persisted, as assessed by western immunoblotting of myelin basic protein (MBP; decreased expression) and MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; decreased fractional anisotropy). These results indicate that third trimester-equivalent alcohol exposure leads to an acute, albeit recoverable, decrease in OL lineage cell numbers, accompanied by enduring WM injury. Additionally, our finding of heterogeneity in alcohol susceptibility based on the developmental origin of OLs may have therapeutic implications in FASD and other disorders of WM development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Newville
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | | | - Lu Li
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Lauren L Jantzie
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Lee Anna Cunningham
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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18
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Goodlett CR, Horn KH, Zhou FC. Alcohol Teratogenesis: Mechanisms of Damage and Strategies for Intervention. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 230:394-406. [PMID: 15956769 DOI: 10.1177/15353702-0323006-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There are multiple mechanisms by which alcohol can damage the developing brain, but the type of damage induced will depend on the amount and developmental timing of exposure, along with other maternal and genetic factors. This article reviews current perspectives on how ethanol can produce neuroteratogenic effects by its interactions with molecular regulators of brain development. The current evidence suggests that alcohol produces many of its damaging effects by exerting specific actions on molecules that regulate key developmental processes (e.g., L1 cell adhesion molecule, alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase), interfering with the early development of midline serotonergic neurons and disrupting their regulatory-signaling function for other target brain structures, interfering with trophic factors that regulate neurogenesis and cell survival, or inducing excessive cell death via oxidative stress or activation of caspase-3 proteases. The current understanding of pathogenesis mechanisms suggests several strategic approaches to develop rational molecular prevention. However, the development of behavioral and biologic treatments for alcohol-affected children is crucial because it is unlikely that effective delivery of preventative interventions can realistically be achieved in ways to prevent prenatal damage in at-risk pregnancies. Toward that end, behavioral training that promotes experience-dependent neuroplasticity has been effective in a rat model of cerebellar damage induced by alcohol exposure during the period of brain development that is comparable to that of the human third trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Goodlett
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
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19
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Abbott CW, Kozanian OO, Kanaan J, Wendel KM, Huffman KJ. The Impact of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Development in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:122-33. [PMID: 26727530 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In utero alcohol, or ethanol (EtOH), exposure produces developmental abnormalities in the brain of the fetus, which can result in lifelong behavioral abnormalities. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a term used to describe a range of adverse developmental conditions caused by EtOH exposure during gestation. Children diagnosed with FASD potentially exhibit a host of phenotypes including growth retardation, facial dysmorphology, central nervous system anomalies, abnormal behavior, and cognitive deficits. Previous research suggests that abnormal gene expression and circuitry in the neocortex may underlie reported disabilities of learning, memory, and behavior resulting from early exposure to alcohol (J Neurosci, 33, 2013, 18893). METHODS Here, we utilize a mouse model of FASD to examine effects of prenatal EtOH exposure (PrEE), on brain anatomy in newborn (postnatal day [P]0), weanling (P20), and early adult (P50) mice. We correlate abnormal cortical and subcortical anatomy with atypical behavior in adult P50 PrEE mice. In this model, experimental dams self-administered a 25% EtOH solution throughout gestation (gestational days 0 to 19, day of birth), generating the exposure to the offspring. RESULTS Results from these experiments reveal long-term alterations to cortical anatomy, including atypical developmental cortical thinning, and abnormal subcortical development as a result of in utero EtOH exposure. Furthermore, offspring exposed to EtOH during the prenatal period performed poorly on behavioral tasks measuring sensorimotor integration and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Insight from this study will help provide new information on developmental trajectories of PrEE and the biological etiologies of abnormal behavior in people diagnosed with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Abbott
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Olga O Kozanian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Joseph Kanaan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Kara M Wendel
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
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20
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Wilhelm CJ, Guizzetti M. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: An Overview from the Glia Perspective. Front Integr Neurosci 2016; 9:65. [PMID: 26793073 PMCID: PMC4707276 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2015.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can produce a variety of central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities in the offspring resulting in a broad spectrum of cognitive and behavioral impairments that constitute the most severe and long-lasting effects observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Alcohol-induced abnormalities in glial cells have been suspected of contributing to the adverse effects of alcohol on the developing brain for several years, although much research still needs to be done to causally link the effects of alcohol on specific brain structures and behavior to alterations in glial cell development and function. Damage to radial glia due to prenatal alcohol exposure may underlie observations of abnormal neuronal and glial migration in humans with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), as well as primate and rodent models of FAS. A reduction in cell number and altered development has been reported for several glial cell types in animal models of FAS. In utero alcohol exposure can cause microencephaly when alcohol exposure occurs during the brain growth spurt a period characterized by rapid astrocyte proliferation and maturation; since astrocytes are the most abundant cells in the brain, microenchephaly may be caused by reduced astrocyte proliferation or survival, as observed in in vitro and in vivo studies. Delayed oligodendrocyte development and increased oligodendrocyte precursor apoptosis has also been reported in experimental models of FASD, which may be linked to altered myelination/white matter integrity found in FASD children. Children with FAS exhibit hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and anterior commissure, two areas requiring guidance from glial cells and proper maturation of oligodendrocytes. Finally, developmental alcohol exposure disrupts microglial function and induces microglial apoptosis; given the role of microglia in synaptic pruning during brain development, the effects of alcohol on microglia may be involved in the abnormal brain plasticity reported in FASD. The consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure on glial cells, including radial glia and other transient glial structures present in the developing brain, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and their precursors, and microglia contributes to abnormal neuronal development, reduced neuron survival and disrupted brain architecture and connectivity. This review highlights the CNS structural abnormalities caused by in utero alcohol exposure and outlines which abnormalities are likely mediated by alcohol effects on glial cell development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare J Wilhelm
- Research Service, VA Portland Health Care SystemPortland, OR, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortland, OR, USA
| | - Marina Guizzetti
- Research Service, VA Portland Health Care SystemPortland, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortland, OR, USA
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21
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Levman J, Takahashi E. Pre-Adult MRI of Brain Cancer and Neurological Injury: Multivariate Analyses. Front Pediatr 2016; 4:65. [PMID: 27446888 PMCID: PMC4917540 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2016.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer and neurological injuries, such as stroke, are life-threatening conditions for which further research is needed to overcome the many challenges associated with providing optimal patient care. Multivariate analysis (MVA) is a class of pattern recognition technique involving the processing of data that contains multiple measurements per sample. MVA can be used to address a wide variety of neuroimaging challenges, including identifying variables associated with patient outcomes; understanding an injury's etiology, development, and progression; creating diagnostic tests; assisting in treatment monitoring; and more. Compared to adults, imaging of the developing brain has attracted less attention from MVA researchers, however, remarkable MVA growth has occurred in recent years. This paper presents the results of a systematic review of the literature focusing on MVA technologies applied to brain injury and cancer in neurological fetal, neonatal, and pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With a wide variety of MRI modalities providing physiologically meaningful biomarkers and new biomarker measurements constantly under development, MVA techniques hold enormous potential toward combining available measurements toward improving basic research and the creation of technologies that contribute to improving patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Levman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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22
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Potential Role of Endocannabinoids Signaling. Brain Sci 2015; 5:456-93. [PMID: 26529026 PMCID: PMC4701023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci5040456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the unique features of prenatal alcohol exposure in humans is impaired cognitive and behavioral function resulting from damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to a spectrum of impairments referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Human FASD phenotypes can be reproduced in the rodent CNS following prenatal ethanol exposure. Several mechanisms are expected to contribute to the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing fetus, particularly in the developing CNS. These mechanisms may act simultaneously or consecutively and differ among a variety of cell types at specific developmental stages in particular brain regions. Studies have identified numerous potential mechanisms through which alcohol can act on the fetus. Among these mechanisms are increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, interference with the activity of growth factors, glia cells, cell adhesion molecules, gene expression during CNS development and impaired function of signaling molecules involved in neuronal communication and circuit formation. These alcohol-induced deficits result in long-lasting abnormalities in neuronal plasticity and learning and memory and can explain many of the neurobehavioral abnormalities found in FASD. In this review, the author discusses the mechanisms that are associated with FASD and provides a current status on the endocannabinoid system in the development of FASD.
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Neuroimaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing human brain: a magnetic resonance imaging review. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2015; 27:251-69. [PMID: 25780875 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2015.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper reviews the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) literature on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing human brain. METHOD A literature search was conducted through the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar. Combinations of the following search terms and keywords were used to identify relevant studies: 'alcohol', 'fetal alcohol spectrum disorders', 'fetal alcohol syndrome', 'FAS', 'FASD', 'MRI', 'DTI', 'MRS', 'neuroimaging', 'children' and 'infants'. RESULTS A total of 64 relevant articles were identified across all modalities. Overall, studies reported smaller total brain volume as well as smaller volume of both the white and grey matter in specific cortical regions. The most consistently reported structural MRI findings were alterations in the shape and volume of the corpus callosum, as well as smaller volume in the basal ganglia and hippocampi. The most consistent finding from diffusion tensor imaging studies was lower fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies are few to date, but showed altered neurometabolic profiles in the frontal and parietal cortex, thalamus and dentate nuclei. Resting-state functional MRI studies reported reduced functional connectivity between cortical and deep grey matter structures. Discussion There is a critical gap in the literature of MRI studies in alcohol-exposed children under 5 years of age across all MRI modalities. The dynamic nature of brain maturation and appreciation of the effects of alcohol exposure on the developing trajectory of the structural and functional network argue for the prioritisation of studies that include a longitudinal approach to understanding this spectrum of effects and potential therapeutic time points.
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26
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Cao W, Li W, Han H, O'Leary-Moore SK, Sulik KK, Allan Johnson G, Liu C. Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces magnetic susceptibility contrast and anisotropy in the white matter of mouse brains. Neuroimage 2014; 102 Pt 2:748-55. [PMID: 25175539 PMCID: PMC4252734 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in long-term cognitive and behavioral deficits. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to a range of permanent birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, and is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in the US. Studies by autopsy and conventional structural MRI indicate that the midline structures of the brain are particularly vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has shown that abnormalities in brain white matter especially the corpus callosum are very common in FASD. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a novel technique that measures tissue's magnetic property. Such magnetic property is affected by tissue microstructure and molecular composition including that of myelin in the white matter. In this work, we studied three major white matter fiber bundles of a mouse model of FASD and compared it to control mice using both QSM and DTI. QSM revealed clear and significant abnormalities in anterior commissure, corpus callosum, and hippocampal commissure, which were likely due to reduced myelination. Our data also suggested that QSM may be even more sensitive than DTI for examining changes due to prenatal alcohol exposure. Although this is a preclinical study, the technique of QSM is readily translatable to human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Hui Han
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shonagh K O'Leary-Moore
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kathleen K Sulik
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - G Allan Johnson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chunlei Liu
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
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27
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Moore EM, Migliorini R, Infante MA, Riley EP. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Recent Neuroimaging Findings. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2014; 1:161-172. [PMID: 25346882 DOI: 10.1007/s40474-014-0020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Since the identification of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome over 40 years ago, much has been learned about the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain. This review highlights recent neuroimaging studies, within the context of previous work. Structural magnetic resonance imaging has described morphological differences in the brain and their relationships to cognitive deficits and measures of facial dysmorphology. Diffusion tensor imaging has elaborated on the relationship between white matter microstructure and behavior. Atypical neuromaturation across childhood and adolescence has been observed in longitudinal neuroimaging studies. Functional imaging has revealed differences in neural activation patterns underlying sensory processing, cognition and behavioral deficits. A recent functional connectivity analysis demonstrates reductions in global network efficiency. Despite this progress much remains unknown about the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain, and continued research efforts are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Robyn Migliorini
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - M Alejandra Infante
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
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Treit S, Zhou D, Lebel C, Rasmussen C, Andrew G, Beaulieu C. Longitudinal MRI reveals impaired cortical thinning in children and adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 35:4892-903. [PMID: 24700453 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2013] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain imaging studies suggest that cortical thickness decreases during childhood and adolescence, in concert with underlying structural and synaptic changes required for cognitive maturation and regional specialization of function. Abnormalities of this protracted developmental process may provide key insights into the cognitive and behavioral deficits that emerge in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Several studies have demonstrated cortical thickness differences in children and adolescents who were prenatally exposed to alcohol, though all have been cross sectional, limiting conclusions about cortical development with age. In this study, we analyze serially collected T1 -weighted MRI from 11 children with FASD and 21 controls, scanned twice each ∼2 to 4 years apart. Mixed-models analysis of cortical thickness measurements revealed age-by-group interactions in cortical thinning, with FASD participants undergoing less developmental thinning than controls across many regions of the cortex, particularly in medial frontal and parietal areas. These results provide further longitudinal evidence in humans that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with altered patterns of brain development that persist during childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Treit
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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29
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Senturias Y, Asamoah A. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: guidance for recognition, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and referral. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 2014; 44:88-95. [PMID: 24810411 DOI: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
FASDs are the most common preventable cause of developmental and intellectual disabilities in the United States and yet can easily be overlooked in pediatric and adolescent practices. Early diagnosis, presence of developmental and educational services, and a nurturing home environment have been associated with decreased occurrence of secondary disabilities such as substance use and criminal involvement.23 Therefore, it is important for providers to know how to go about the identification, diagnostic, and evaluation process. Pediatric care clinicians should be knowledgeable about the diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome and know common differentiating conditions. Furthermore, they should be able to recognize other disorders on the spectrum, and in doing so, they should facilitate appropriate referral, initial management, and coordination of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Senturias
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Program, Levine Children׳s Hospital, Charlotte, NC; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics of the Carolinas-Charlotte, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
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30
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O′Malley KD, Storoz L. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and ADHD: diagnostic implications and therapeutic consequences. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 3:477-89. [DOI: 10.1586/14737175.3.4.477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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31
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Glass L, Ware AL, Mattson SN. Neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:435-462. [PMID: 25307589 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00025-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have deleterious consequences for the fetus, including changes in central nervous system development leading to permanent neurologic alterations and cognitive and behavioral deficits. Individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, including those with and without fetal alcohol syndrome, are identified under the umbrella of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). While studies of humans and animal models confirm that even low to moderate levels of exposure can have detrimental effects, critical doses of such exposure have yet to be specified and the most clinically significant and consistent consequences occur following heavy exposure. These consequences are pervasive, devastating, and can result in long-term dysfunction. This chapter summarizes the neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of FASD, focusing primarily on clinical research of individuals with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, although studies of lower levels of exposure, particularly prospective, longitudinal studies, will be discussed where relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Glass
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ashley L Ware
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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32
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Cole GJ, Zhang C, Ojiaku P, Bell V, Devkota S, Mukhopadhyay S. Effects of ethanol exposure on nervous system development in zebrafish. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 299:255-315. [PMID: 22959306 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394310-1.00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol) is a teratogen that adversely affects nervous system development in a wide range of animal species. In humans numerous congenital abnormalities arise as a result of fetal alcohol exposure, leading to a spectrum of disorders referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). These abnormalities include craniofacial defects as well as neurological defects that affect a variety of behaviors. These human FASD phenotypes are reproduced in the rodent central nervous system (CNS) following prenatal ethanol exposure. While the study of ethanol effects on zebrafish development has been more limited, several studies have shown that different strains of zebrafish exhibit differential susceptibility to ethanol-induced cyclopia, as well as behavioral deficits. Molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ethanol on CNS development also appear to be shared between rodent and zebrafish. Thus, zebrafish appear to recapitulate the observed effects of ethanol on human and mouse CNS development, indicating that zebrafish can serve as a complimentary developmental model system to study the molecular basis of FASD. Recent studies examining the effect of ethanol exposure on zebrafish nervous system development are reviewed, with an emphasis on attempts to elucidate possible molecular pathways that may be impacted by developmental ethanol exposure. Recent work from our laboratories supports a role for perturbed extracellular matrix function in the pathology of ethanol exposure during zebrafish CNS development. The use of the zebrafish model to assess the effects of ethanol exposure on adult nervous system function as manifested by changes in zebrafish behavior is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Cole
- Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA
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33
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Liu W, Schepartz LA, Xing S, Miller-Antonio S, Wu X, Trinkaus E, Martinón-Torres M. Late Middle Pleistocene hominin teeth from Panxian Dadong, South China. J Hum Evol 2013; 64:337-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2012.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2012] [Revised: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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34
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Functional plasticity of the human humerus: Shape, rigidity, and muscular entheses. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2013; 150:609-17. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 12/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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35
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Joseph J, Warton C, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Molteno CD, Eicher A, Marais P, Phillips OR, Narr KL, Meintjes EM. Three-dimensional surface deformation-based shape analysis of hippocampus and caudate nucleus in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 2012; 35:659-72. [PMID: 23124690 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2012] [Revised: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface deformation-based analysis was used to assess local shape variations in the hippocampi and caudate nuclei of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. High-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging images were acquired for 31 children (19 controls and 12 children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome/partial FAS). Hippocampi and caudate nuclei were manually segmented, and surface meshes were reconstructed. An iterative closest point algorithm was used to register the template of one control subject to all other shapes in order to capture the true geometry of the shape with a fixed number of landmark points. A point distribution model was used to quantify the shape variations in terms of a change in co-ordinate positions. Using the localized Hotelling T(2) method, regions of significant shape variations between the control and exposed subjects were identified and mapped onto the mean shapes. Binary masks of hippocampi and caudate nuclei were generated from the segmented volumes of each brain. These were used to compute the volumes and for further statistical analysis. The Mann-Whitney test was performed to predict volume differences between the groups. Although the exposed and control subjects did not differ significantly in their volumes, the shape analysis showed the hippocampus to be more deformed at the head and tail regions in the alcohol-exposed children. Between-group differences in caudate nucleus morphology were dispersed across the tail and head regions. Correlation analysis showed associations between the degree of compression and the level of alcohol exposure. These findings demonstrate that shape analysis using three-dimensional surface measures is sensitive to fetal alcohol exposure and provides additional information than volumetric measures alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesuchristopher Joseph
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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36
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Joshi SH, Narr KL, Philips OR, Nuechterlein KH, Asarnow RF, Toga AW, Woods RP. Statistical shape analysis of the corpus callosum in Schizophrenia. Neuroimage 2012; 64:547-59. [PMID: 23000788 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Revised: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a statistical shape-analysis framework for characterizing and comparing morphological variation of the corpus callosum. The midsagittal boundary of the corpus callosum is represented by a closed curve and analyzed using an invariant shape representation. The shape space of callosal curves is endowed with a Riemannian metric. Shape distances are given by the length of shortest paths (geodesics) that are invariant to shape-confounding transformations. The statistical framework enables computation of shape averages and covariances on the shape space in an intrinsic manner (unique to the shape space). The statistical framework makes use of the tangent principal component approach to achieve dimension reduction on the space of corpus callosum shapes. The advantages of this approach are - it is fully automatic, invariant, and avoids the use of landmarks to define shapes. We applied our method to determine the effects of sex, age, schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related genetic liability on callosal shape in a large sample of patients and controls and their first-degree relatives (N=218). Results showed significant age, sex, and schizophrenia effects on both global and local callosal shape structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu H Joshi
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7334, USA.
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37
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Fryer SL, Mattson SN, Jernigan TL, Archibald SL, Jones KL, Riley EP. Caudate volume predicts neurocognitive performance in youth with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:1932-41. [PMID: 22551091 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01811.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2011] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders result from heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and are characterized, in some cases, by central nervous system anomalies and cognitive impairment. Regional patterns of neuroanatomical abnormalities suggest that alcohol exerts selective damage on the developing fetal brain. This study assessed brain-behavior relationships in a sample of youth with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. The aim was to characterize how structural brain alterations observed in our previous studies relate to cognitive deficits commonly reported in individuals with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. METHODS Twenty-one youth (mean age 13 years) with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and 7 nonexposed healthy comparison subjects underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and neurobehavioral testing. Regional brain volumes within the alcohol-exposed group were correlated with neuropsychological measures of cognitive control and verbal learning/recall, as these aspects of cognition have previously been shown to be vulnerable to alcohol teratogenesis. RESULTS Between-group effect sizes revealed moderate to large cognitive performance and brain volume decrements in alcohol-exposed subjects, compared with typically developing peers. Within the alcohol-exposed group, volume of the caudate nuclei was the most consistent predictor of neuropsychological performance, after controlling for potentially confounding variables including total brain volume, IQ, and age. CONCLUSIONS These data are consistent with previous research associating gestational alcohol exposure with structural and functional changes of the caudate nucleus. Our findings extend this previous work by demonstrating that volume reductions of the caudate have behavioral relevance for this population, in relation to cognitive control and verbal learning and recall abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna L Fryer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, CA, USA
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38
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Yang Y, Roussotte F, Kan E, Sulik KK, Mattson SN, Riley EP, Jones KL, Adnams CM, May PA, O'Connor MJ, Narr KL, Sowell ER. Abnormal cortical thickness alterations in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their relationships with facial dysmorphology. Cereb Cortex 2012; 22:1170-9. [PMID: 21799209 PMCID: PMC3328347 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhr193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence from structural brain imaging studies on individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has supported links between prenatal alcohol exposure and brain morphological deficits. Although global and regional volumetric reductions appear relatively robust, the effects of alcohol exposure on cortical thickness and relationships with facial dysmorphology are not yet known. The structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 69 children and adolescents with FASD and 58 nonexposed controls collected from 3 sites were examined using FreeSurfer to detect cortical thickness changes across the entire brain in FASD and their associations with facial dysmorphology. Controlling for brain size, subjects with FASD showed significantly thicker cortices than controls in several frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. Analyses conducted within site further revealed prominent group differences in left inferior frontal cortex within all 3 sites. In addition, increased inferior frontal thickness was significantly correlated with reduced palpebral fissure length. Consistent with previous reports, findings of this study are supportive of regional increases in cortical thickness serving as a biomarker for disrupted brain development in FASD. Furthermore, the significant associations between thickness and dysmorphic measures suggest that the severity of brain anomalies may be reflected by that of the face.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Yang
- Laboratory of NeuroImaging (LONI), Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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39
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Foltran F, Gregori D, Franchin L, Verduci E, Giovannini M. Effect of alcohol consumption in prenatal life, childhood, and adolescence on child development. Nutr Rev 2012; 69:642-59. [PMID: 22029831 DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00417.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of alcohol consumption in adults are well described in the literature, while knowledge about the effects of alcohol consumption in children is more limited and less systematic. The present review shows how alcohol consumption may negatively influence the neurobiological and neurobehavioral development of humans. Three different periods of life have been considered: the prenatal term, childhood, and adolescence. For each period, evidence of the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol consumption, including neurodevelopmental effects and associations with subsequent alcohol abuse or dependence, is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Foltran
- Laboratories of Epidemiological Methods and Biostatistics, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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40
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Bruner E, de la Cuétara JM, Colom R, Martin-Loeches M. Gender-based differences in the shape of the human corpus callosum are associated with allometric variations. J Anat 2012; 220:417-21. [PMID: 22296183 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01476.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The corpus callosum displays considerable morphological variability between individuals. Although some characteristics are thought to differ between male and female brains, there is no agreement regarding the source of this variation. Biomedical imaging and geometric morphometrics have provided tools to investigate shape and size variation in terms of integration and correlation. Here we analyze variations at the midsagittal outline of the corpus callosum in a sample of 102 young adults in order to describe and quantify the pattern of covariation associated with its morphology. Our results suggest that the shape of the corpus callosum is characterized by low levels of morphological integration, which explains the large variability. In larger brains, a minor allometric component involves a relative reduction of the splenium. Small differences between males and?females are associated with this allometric pattern, induced primarily by size variation rather than gender-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Bruner
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos, Spain.
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41
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JANKOWSKI HANNA, STANBERRY LARISSA. Confidence Regions for Means of Random Sets Using Oriented Distance Functions. Scand Stat Theory Appl 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9469.2011.00753.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Alfonso-Loeches S, Guerri C. Molecular and behavioral aspects of the actions of alcohol on the adult and developing brain. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2011; 48:19-47. [PMID: 21657944 DOI: 10.3109/10408363.2011.580567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The brain is one of the major target organs of alcohol actions. Alcohol abuse can lead to alterations in brain structure and functions and, in some cases, to neurodegeneration. Cognitive deficits and alcohol dependence are highly damaging consequences of alcohol abuse. Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that the developing brain is particularly vulnerable to alcohol, and that drinking during gestation can lead to a range of physical, learning and behavioral defects (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders), with the most dramatic presentation corresponding to fetal alcohol syndrome. Recent findings also indicate that adolescence is a stage of brain maturation and that heavy drinking at this stage can have a negative impact on brain structure and functions causing important short- and long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences. The effects of alcohol on the brain are not uniform; some brain areas or cell populations are more vulnerable than others. The prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the white matter and glial cells are particularly susceptible to the effects of ethanol. The molecular actions of alcohol on the brain are complex and involve numerous mechanisms and signaling pathways. Some of the mechanisms involved are common for the adult brain and for the developing brain, while others depend on the developmental stage. During brain ontogeny, alcohol causes irreversible alterations to the brain structure. It also impairs several molecular, neurochemical and cellular events taking place during normal brain development, including alterations in both gene expression regulation and the molecules involved in cell-cell interactions, interference with the mitogenic and growth factor response, enhancement of free radical formation and derangements of glial cell functions. However, in both adult and adolescent brains, alcohol damages specific brain areas through mechanisms involving excitotoxicity, free radical formation and neuroinflammatory damage resulting from activation of the innate immune system mediated by TLR4 receptors. Alcohol also acts on specific membrane proteins, such as neurotransmitter receptors (e.g. NMDA, GABA-A), ion channels (e.g. L-type Ca²⁺ channels, GIRKs), and signaling pathways (e.g. PKA and PKC signaling). These effects might underlie the wide variety of behavioral effects induced by ethanol drinking. The neuroadaptive changes affecting neurotransmission systems which are more sensitive to the acute effects of alcohol occur after long-term alcohol consumption. Alcohol-induced maladaptations in the dopaminergic mesolimbic system, abnormal plastic changes in the reward-related brain areas and genetic and epigenetic factors may all contribute to alcohol reinforcement and alcohol addiction. This manuscript reviews the mechanisms by which ethanol impacts the adult and the developing brain, and causes both neural impairments and cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions. The identification and the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in ethanol toxicity might contribute to the development of treatments and/or therapeutic agents that could reduce or eliminate the deleterious effects of alcohol on the brain.
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Chen X, Coles CD, Lynch ME, Hu X. Understanding specific effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on brain structure in young adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2011; 33:1663-76. [PMID: 21692145 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Revised: 02/05/2011] [Accepted: 03/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with various adverse effects on human brain and behavior. Recently, neuroimaging studies have begun to identify PAE effects on specific brain structures. Investigation of such specific PAE effects is important for understanding the teratogenic mechanism of PAE on human brain, which is critical for differentiating PAE from other disorders. In this structural MRI study with young adults, PAE effects on the volumes of automatically segmented cortical and subcortical regions of interest (ROIs) were evaluated both through a group difference approach and a parametric approach. In the group difference approach (comparing among two PAE and a control groups), a disproportionate PAE effect was found in several occipital and temporal regions. This result is inconsistent with previous studies with child samples. Moreover, a gender difference in PAE effect was shown in some cortical ROIs. These findings suggest that sampling and gender may be important factors for interpreting specific PAE effects on human brain. With the parametric approach, it was demonstrated that the higher the PAE level, the smaller the entire brain, the lower the IQ. Several cortical and subcortical ROIs also exhibited a negative correlation between the PAE level and ROI volume. Furthermore, our data showed that the PAE effect on the brain could not be interpreted by the PAE effect on general physical growth until the young adult age. This study provides valuable insight into specific effects of PAE on human brain and suggests important implications for future studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangchuan Chen
- Biomedical Imaging Technology Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
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44
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Magnetic resonance-based imaging in animal models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21:167-85. [PMID: 21445552 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-011-9164-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), have recently been applied to the study of both normal and abnormal structure and neurochemistry in small animals. Herein, findings from studies in which these methods have been used for the examination of animal models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are discussed. Emphasis is placed on results of imaging studies in fetal and postnatal mice that have highlighted the developmental stage dependency of prenatal ethanol exposure-induced CNS defects. Consideration is also given to the promise of methodological advances to allow in vivo studies of aberrant brain and behavior relationships in model animals and to the translational nature of this work.
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45
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Imaging the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the structure of the developing human brain. Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21:102-18. [PMID: 21369875 PMCID: PMC3098972 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-011-9163-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure has numerous effects on the developing brain, including damage to selective brain structure. We review structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of brain abnormalities in subjects prenatally exposed to alcohol. The most common findings include reduced brain volume and malformations of the corpus callosum. Advanced methods have been able to detect shape, thickness and displacement changes throughout multiple brain regions. The teratogenic effects of alcohol appear to be widespread, affecting almost the entire brain. The only region that appears to be relatively spared is the occipital lobe. More recent studies have linked cognition to the underlying brain structure in alcohol-exposed subjects, and several report patterns in the severity of brain damage as it relates to facial dysmorphology or to extent of alcohol exposure. Future studies exploring relationships between brain structure, cognitive measures, dysmorphology, age, and other variables will be valuable for further comprehending the vast effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and for evaluating possible interventions.
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46
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What does diffusion tensor imaging reveal about the brain and cognition in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders? Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21:133-47. [PMID: 21347880 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-011-9162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 5 years, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) has begun to provide new evidence about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on white matter development. DTI, which examines microstructural tissue integrity, is sensitive to more subtle white matter abnormalities than traditional volumetric MRI methods. Thus far, the available DTI data suggest that white matter microstructural abnormalities fall on a continuum of severity in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Abnormalities are prominent in the corpus callosum, but also evident in major anterior-posterior fiber bundles, corticospinal tracts, and cerebellum. These subtle abnormalities are correlated with neurocognitive deficits, especially in processing speed, non-verbal ability, and executive functioning. Future studies using larger samples, increasingly sophisticated DTI methods, and additional functional MRI connectivity measures will better characterize the full range of abnormalities in FASD. Ultimately, these measures may serve as indices of change in future longitudinal studies and in studies of interventions for FASD.
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47
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Zhou FC, Zhao Q, Liu Y, Goodlett CR, Liang T, McClintick JN, Edenberg HJ, Li L. Alteration of gene expression by alcohol exposure at early neurulation. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:124. [PMID: 21338521 PMCID: PMC3056799 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated that alcohol exposure at early neurulation induces growth retardation, neural tube abnormalities, and alteration of DNA methylation. To explore the global gene expression changes which may underline these developmental defects, microarray analyses were performed in a whole embryo mouse culture model that allows control over alcohol and embryonic variables. RESULT Alcohol caused teratogenesis in brain, heart, forelimb, and optic vesicle; a subset of the embryos also showed cranial neural tube defects. In microarray analysis (accession number GSM9545), adopting hypothesis-driven Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) informatics and intersection analysis of two independent experiments, we found that there was a collective reduction in expression of neural specification genes (neurogenin, Sox5, Bhlhe22), neural growth factor genes [Igf1, Efemp1, Klf10 (Tieg), and Edil3], and alteration of genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis, histone variants, eye and heart development. There was also a reduction of retinol binding protein 1 (Rbp1), and de novo expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 (Aldh1B1). Remarkably, four key hematopoiesis genes (glycophorin A, adducin 2, beta-2 microglobulin, and ceruloplasmin) were absent after alcohol treatment, and histone variant genes were reduced. The down-regulation of the neurospecification and the neurotrophic genes were further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, the gene expression profile demonstrated distinct subgroups which corresponded with two distinct alcohol-related neural tube phenotypes: an open (ALC-NTO) and a closed neural tube (ALC-NTC). Further, the epidermal growth factor signaling pathway and histone variants were specifically altered in ALC-NTO, and a greater number of neurotrophic/growth factor genes were down-regulated in the ALC-NTO than in the ALC-NTC embryos. CONCLUSION This study revealed a set of genes vulnerable to alcohol exposure and genes that were associated with neural tube defects during early neurulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng C Zhou
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Wozniak JR, Mueller BA, Muetzel RL, Bell CJ, Hoecker HL, Nelson ML, Chang PN, Lim KO. Inter-hemispheric functional connectivity disruption in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2011; 35:849-61. [PMID: 21303384 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01415.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MRI studies, including recent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies, have shown corpus callosum abnormalities in children prenatally exposed to alcohol, especially in the posterior regions. These abnormalities appear across the range of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Several studies have demonstrated cognitive correlates of callosal abnormalities in FASD including deficits in visual-motor skill, verbal learning, and executive functioning. The goal of this study was to determine whether inter-hemispheric structural connectivity abnormalities in FASD are associated with disrupted inter-hemispheric functional connectivity and disrupted cognition. METHODS Twenty-one children with FASD and 23 matched controls underwent a 6-minute resting-state functional MRI scan as well as anatomical imaging and DTI. Using a semi-automated method, we parsed the corpus callosum and delineated 7 inter-hemispheric white matter tracts with DTI tractography. Cortical regions of interest (ROIs) at the distal ends of these tracts were identified. Right-left correlations in resting fMRI signal were computed for these sets of ROIs, and group comparisons were made. Correlations with facial dysmorphology, cognition, and DTI measures were computed. RESULTS A significant group difference in inter-hemispheric functional connectivity was seen in a posterior set of ROIs, the para-central region. Children with FASD had functional connectivity that was 12% lower than in controls in this region. Subgroup analyses were not possible owing to small sample size, but the data suggest that there were effects across the FASD spectrum. No significant association with facial dysmorphology was found. Para-central functional connectivity was significantly correlated with DTI mean diffusivity, a measure of microstructural integrity, in posterior callosal tracts in controls but not in FASD. Significant correlations were seen between these structural and functional measures, and Wechsler perceptual reasoning ability. CONCLUSIONS Inter-hemispheric functional connectivity disturbances were observed in children with FASD relative to controls. The disruption was measured in medial parietal regions (para-central) that are connected by posterior callosal fiber projections. We have previously shown microstructural abnormalities in these same posterior callosal regions, and the current study suggests a possible relationship between the two. These measures have clinical relevance as they are associated with cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55454, USA.
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Bowden DM, Johnson GA, Zaborsky L, Green WDK, Moore E, Badea A, Dubach MF, Bookstein FL. A symmetrical Waxholm canonical mouse brain for NeuroMaps. J Neurosci Methods 2010; 195:170-5. [PMID: 21163300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 11/11/2010] [Accepted: 11/30/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
NeuroMaps (2010) is a Web-based application that enables investigators to map data from macaque studies to a canonical atlas of the macaque brain. It currently serves as an image processor enabling them to create figures suitable for publication, presentation and archival purposes. Eventually it will enable investigators studying any of several species to analyze the overlap between their data and multimodality data mapped by others. The purpose of the current project was to incorporate the Waxholm canonical mouse brain (Harwylycz, 2009) into NeuroMaps. An enhanced gradient echo (T2*) magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the Waxholm canonical brain (Johnson et al., 2010) was warped to bring the irregular biological midplane of the MRI into line with the mathematically flat midsagittal plane of the Waxholm space. The left hemisphere was deleted and the right hemisphere reflected to produce a symmetrical 3D MR image. The symmetrical T2* image was imported into NeuroMaps. The map executing this warp was applied to four other voxellated volumes based on the same canonical specimen and maintained at the Center for In-Vitro Microscopy (CIVM): a T2-weighted MRI, a T1-weighted MRI, a segmented image and an image reconstructed from Nissl-stained histological sections of the specimen. Symmetric versions of those images were returned to the CIVM repository where they are made available to other laboratories. Utility of the symmetric atlas was demonstrated by mapping and comparing a number of cortical areas as illustrated in three conventional mouse brain atlases. The symmetric Waxholm mouse brain atlas is now accessible in NeuroMaps where investigators can map image data to standard templates over the Web and process them for publication, presentation and archival purposes: http://braininfo.rprc.washington.edu/MapViewData.aspx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas M Bowden
- National Primate Research Center and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Box 357330, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Ventromedian forebrain dysgenesis follows early prenatal ethanol exposure in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2010; 33:231-9. [PMID: 21074610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2010.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Accepted: 11/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure on gestational day (GD) 7 in the mouse has previously been shown to result in ventromedian forebrain deficits along with facial anomalies characteristic of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). To further explore ethanol's teratogenic effect on the ventromedian forebrain in this mouse model, scanning electron microscopic and histological analyses were conducted. For this, time mated C57Bl/6J mice were injected with 2.9g/kg ethanol or saline twice, at a 4h interval, on their 7th day of pregnancy. On GD 12.5, 13 and 17, control and ethanol-exposed specimens were collected and processed for light and scanning electron microscopic analyses. Gross morphological changes present in the forebrains of ethanol-exposed embryos included cerebral hemispheres that were too close in proximity or rostrally united, enlarged foramina of Monro, enlarged or united lateral ventricles, and varying degrees of hippocampal and ventromedian forebrain deficiency. In GD 12.5 control and ethanol-exposed embryos, in situ hybridization employing probes for Nkx2.1 or Fzd8 to distinguish the preoptic area and medial ganglionic eminences (MGEs) from the lateral ganglionic eminences, respectively, confirmed the selective loss of ventromedian tissues. Immunohistochemical labeling of oligodendrocyte progenitors with Olig2, a transcription factor necessary for their specification, and of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, showed ethanol-induced reductions in both. To investigate later consequences of ventromedian forebrain loss, MGE-derived somatostatin-expressing interneurons in the subpallial region of GD 17 fetal mice were examined, with results showing that the somatostatin-expressing interneurons that were present were dysmorphic in the ethanol-exposed fetuses. The potential functional consequences of this insult are discussed.
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