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Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Taggart T, Ward QJ, Ashrafi A, Mattson SN, Riley EP. Spiral drawing deficits in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:2045-2055. [PMID: 38226753 PMCID: PMC10792250 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Empirical investigations reveal that, in comparison to their typically developing peers, children with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure experience deficits in writing but not drawing skills, both of which require fine motor control. This study examines drawing skills in this clinical group by assessing simple free-form spiral drawings with indices of spectral features and structural organization. METHODS Children with (n = 15) and without (n = 24) prenatal alcohol exposure used their dominant and nondominant hands to draw a series of spirals using a wireless pen stylus that either provided concurrent visual feedback in the form of a black ink trace or left no visible ink trace of each drawing. Spirals were drawn on a sheet of paper placed on a digitizing table, which facilitated online data acquisition. The data were assessed by power spectral density function analysis and sample entropy analysis. RESULTS In comparison to their typically developing peers, children with prenatal alcohol exposure produced spirals with a lower mean frequency and less spectral variability. Spirals in the prenatally exposed group were also lower in complexity and structural organization than in the control group. These results occurred independently of hand dominance or the availability of visual feedback. CONCLUSIONS The drawing skills of children with prenatal alcohol exposure have inherent signal characteristics that differ significantly from those produced by typically developing peers. Simple tasks requiring fine motor control may be useful in identifying individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Tenille Taggart
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | | | - Ashkan Ashrafi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Single leg hopping in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Dynamic postural stability and kinematics. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2020; 24:303-315. [PMID: 33218527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study compared dynamic postural stability (DPS) and lower limb kinematics during single leg hopping (SLH) performed by typically-developed children from urban and rural settings and children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) from a rural setting. METHODS Typically-developed nine-year-old children from an urban (n = 27) and rural setting (n = 14) (controls), and nine-year-old children with FASD from a rural setting (n = 14) (cases) performed SLH and landing on a pressure mat. Motion analysis systems described 1) Spatiotemporal and centre of pressure parameters (COP) and lower limb sagittal plane kinematics. Descriptive results are presented in median and ranges and differences between groups were determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests. The level of significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS During hopping, the urban controls had longer stance and swing times (p < 0.001) than the rural groups. The urban controls remained in greater hip flexion compared to the case group (p = 0.02). The urban controls landed in more plantarflexion at initial foot contact (IFC) than the cases (p < 0.001) and the rural controls (p = 0.03). The rural groups landed with greater knee extension at IFC than the urban controls (cases p = 0.04; rural controls p < 0.001). During the landing motion, the urban controls moved into more hip flexion compared to the cases (p = 0.015) and the rural controls (p = 0.026). The cases displayed greater COP anteroposterior values during landing compared to both control groups, but the case group displayed the fastest time to stability. CONCLUSION The different hopping strategies observed provides an indication of the movement capabilities of these groups.
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Raldiris TL, Bowers TG, Towsey C. Comparisons of Intelligence and Behavior in Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. J Atten Disord 2018; 22:959-970. [PMID: 25525157 DOI: 10.1177/1087054714563792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can easily be misdiagnosed as having ADHD. METHOD A total of 164 children were compared on cognitive and behavioral measures for four groups of children: FASD, ADHD, FASD + ADHD, and other neuropsychological disorders. RESULTS The ADHD group was not significantly different from the "other diagnosis" group on any of the measurements. The children with FASD were found to perform significantly worse than ADHD on externalizing problems, Full-Scale IQ, and indices of Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Working Memory. The comorbid FASD + ADHD group was significantly weaker than ADHD on verbal comprehension measures. The FASD children demonstrated significantly higher levels of atypicality and aggression relative to ADHD, and the FASD + ADHD group demonstrated significantly higher levels of hyperactivity and withdrawal relative to ADHD. CONCLUSION These results indicate that children with FASD display a differential behavioral and cognitive profile that is significantly poorer than children with ADHD and other types of neuropsychological disorders.
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Bird CW, Taylor DH, Pinkowski NJ, Chavez GJ, Valenzuela CF. Long-term Reductions in the Population of GABAergic Interneurons in the Mouse Hippocampus following Developmental Ethanol Exposure. Neuroscience 2018; 383:60-73. [PMID: 29753864 PMCID: PMC5994377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Developmental exposure to ethanol leads to a constellation of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Many cell types throughout the central nervous system are negatively impacted by gestational alcohol exposure, including inhibitory, GABAergic interneurons. Little evidence exists, however, describing the long-term impact of fetal alcohol exposure on survival of interneurons within the hippocampal formation, which is critical for learning and memory processes that are impaired in individuals with FASDs. Mice expressing Venus yellow fluorescent protein in inhibitory interneurons were exposed to vaporized ethanol during the third trimester equivalent of human gestation (postnatal days 2-9), and the long-term effects on interneuron numbers were measured using unbiased stereology at P90. In adulthood, interneuron populations were reduced in every hippocampal region examined. Moreover, we found that a single exposure to ethanol at P7 caused robust activation of apoptotic neurodegeneration of interneurons in the hilus, granule cell layer, CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. These studies demonstrate that developmental ethanol exposure has a long-term impact on hippocampal interneuron survivability, and may provide a mechanism partially explaining deficits in hippocampal function and hippocampus-dependent behaviors in those afflicted with FASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Devin H Taylor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Natalie J Pinkowski
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - G Jill Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
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Ali S, Kerns KA, Mulligan BP, Olson HC, Astley SJ. An investigation of intra-individual variability in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Child Neuropsychol 2018; 24:617-637. [PMID: 28301980 PMCID: PMC6309982 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2017.1302579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Intra-individual variability (IIV) is defined as systematic within-person variation in performance either across test sessions (e.g., test/retest performance on the same task) or in one session (e.g., variations in performance on multiple trials of a single task). Higher levels of IIV have been noted as a characteristic of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but IIV is yet to be investigated in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD is a term used to describe a range of conditions resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. As part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, four study groups (1. fetal alcohol syndrome/partial fetal alcohol syndrome; 2. static encephalopathy/alcohol exposed; 3. neurobehavioral disorder/alcohol exposed as diagnosed using the University of Washington FASD 4-Digit Code; 4. typically-developing (TD) age-matched children with no prenatal alcohol exposure) were administered measures of motor response and inhibitory control, attention, and adaptive behavior. The results indicate increased levels of IIV in those with FASD compared to the TD controls. It was found that IIV uniquely contributes to predicting adaptive behavior above and beyond attention, while attention partially mediates the relationship between IIV and adaptive behavior. This is the first study to the authors' knowledge to show the presence of increased IIV in children with FASD. It additionally provides evidence that IIV measures some inherent variability in performance independent of poor attention in children with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheliza Ali
- a Department of Psychology , University of Victoria , Canada
| | | | | | - Heather Carmichael Olson
- b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle , WA , USA
- c Seattle Children's Research Institute , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - Susan J Astley
- d Department of Epidemiology , University of Washington School of Public Health , Seattle , WA , USA
- e Department of Pediatrics , University of Washington School of Medicine , Seattle , WA , USA
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Brink Y, Cockcroft J, Seedat S, May P, Kalberg W, Louw Q. The postural stability of children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders during one-leg stance: A feasibility study. Afr J Disabil 2018; 7:319. [PMID: 29707515 PMCID: PMC5913772 DOI: 10.4102/ajod.v7i0.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Postural control may be impaired in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The study assessed the protocol feasibility in terms of (1) recruiting children with FASD in a rural, small town; (2) using the measurement instruments in a real-life setting; (3) the one-leg standing (OLS) task and (4) presenting preliminary results on postural stability of children with and without FASD. Methods Nine-year-old children diagnosed with and without FASD were invited to participate. Twenty-eight children performed OLS. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, measurement instrument use and task instruction. Postural stability outcomes included standing duration, centre of pressure (COP) and body segment acceleration. Results Participants recruitment was feasible in terms of the (1) ability to sample a reasonable participant number in a rural town setting and the capacity to increase the sample size if more schools are included in the sampling frame and (2) use of assent and consent forms that were appropriate for this population. The measurement instruments were user-friendly, cost-effective and time-efficient. Instructions for the task require amendment to address foot placement of the non-weight–bearing leg. There was a significant difference between cases and controls on mean COP velocity (p = 0.001) and the pelvis segment acceleration in the mediolateral direction (p = 0.01) and the anteroposterior direction (p = 0.027). The control children took longer to achieve postural control. The girls demonstrated a significant difference for the COP anteroposterior displacement (p = 0.008) and velocity (p = 0.049). Conclusions The recruitment of children with and without FASD in a rural, small town and the administration of measurement instruments in a real-life, school-based setting was feasible. However, the verbal instructions for the task require revision. The male control group took longer to achieve postural control because the task was performed differently between the two groups. However, the case girls were slower to achieve postural control than control girls though performing the task similarly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolandi Brink
- Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - John Cockcroft
- Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - Philip May
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, United States.,Nutrition Research Institute, Kannapolis, United States
| | - Wendy Kalberg
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, The University of New Mexico, Mexico
| | - Quinette Louw
- Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
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Rouzer SK, Cole JM, Johnson JM, Varlinskaya EI, Diaz MR. Moderate Maternal Alcohol Exposure on Gestational Day 12 Impacts Anxiety-Like Behavior in Offspring. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:183. [PMID: 29033803 PMCID: PMC5626811 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the numerous consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is an increase in anxiety-like behavior that can prove debilitating to daily functioning. A significant body of literature has linked gestational day 12 (G12) heavy ethanol exposure with social anxiety, evident in adolescent males and females. However, the association between non-social anxiety-like behavior and moderate alcohol exposure, a more common pattern of drinking in pregnant women, is yet unidentified. To model moderate PAE (mPAE), we exposed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to either room air or vaporized ethanol for 6 h on G12. Adolescent offspring were then tested on postnatal days (P) 41-47 in one of the following four anxiety assays: novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH), elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB) and open-field (OF). Our findings revealed significant increases in measures of anxiety-like behavior in male PAE offspring in the NIH, LDB and OF, with no differences observed in females on any test. Additionally, male offspring who demonstrated heightened anxiety-like behavior as adolescents demonstrated decreased anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, as measured by a marble-burying test (MBT), while females continued to be unaffected in adulthood. These results suggest that mPAE leads to dynamic changes in anxiety-like behavior exclusively in male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siara K Rouzer
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Jesse M Cole
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Julia M Johnson
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Marvin R Diaz
- Department of Psychology, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
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Abstract
This grand rounds manuscript reviews important considerations in developing case conceptualizations for individuals with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure. This case study provides an introduction to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, diagnostic issues, a detailed description of the individual's history, presenting symptoms, neuropsychological test results, and an integrated summary. We describe a 9-year old girl diagnosed with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE). This patient is a composite of a prototypical child who participated as part of a research project at the Center for Behavioral Teratology who was subsequently seen at an outpatient child psychiatry facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Glass
- Center for Behavioral Teratology and Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology and Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
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Bird CW, Barto D, Magcalas CM, Rodriguez CI, Donaldson T, Davies S, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Ifenprodil infusion in agranular insular cortex alters social behavior and vocalizations in rats exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during prenatal development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 320:1-11. [PMID: 27888019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Moderate exposure to alcohol during development leads to subtle neurobiological and behavioral effects classified under the umbrella term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Alterations in social behaviors are a frequently observed consequence of maternal drinking, as children with FASDs display inappropriate aggressive behaviors and altered responses to social cues. Rodent models of FASDs mimic the behavioral alterations seen in humans, with rats exposed to ethanol during development displaying increased aggressive behaviors, decreased social investigation, and altered play behavior. Work from our laboratory has observed increased wrestling behavior in adult male rats following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and increased expression of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in the agranular insular cortex (AIC). This study was undertaken to determine if ifenprodil, a GluN2B preferring negative allosteric modulator, has a significant effect on social behaviors in PAE rats. Using a voluntary ethanol exposure paradigm, rat dams were allowed to drink a saccharin-sweetened solution of either 0% or 5% ethanol throughout gestation. Offspring at 6-8 months of age were implanted with cannulae into AIC. Animals were isolated for 24h before ifenprodil or vehicle was infused into AIC, and after 15min they were recorded in a social interaction chamber. Ifenprodil treatment altered aspects of wrestling, social investigatory behaviors, and ultrasonic vocalizations in rats exposed to ethanol during development that were not observed in control animals. These data indicate that GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in AIC play a role in social behaviors and may underlie alterations in behavior and vocalizations observed in PAE animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Tia Donaldson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Rodriguez CI, Magcalas CM, Barto D, Fink BC, Rice JP, Bird CW, Davies S, Pentkowski NS, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Effects of sex and housing on social, spatial, and motor behavior in adult rats exposed to moderate levels of alcohol during prenatal development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 313:233-243. [PMID: 27424779 PMCID: PMC4987176 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Persistent deficits in social behavior, motor behavior, and behavioral flexibility are among the major negative consequences associated with exposure to ethanol during prenatal development. Prior work from our laboratory has linked moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat to deficits in these behavioral domains, which depend upon the ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. Manipulations of the social environment cause modifications of dendritic morphology and experience-dependent immediate early gene expression in ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2010) [19], and may yield positive behavioral outcomes following PAE. In the present study we evaluated the effects of housing PAE rats with non-exposed control rats on adult behavior. Rats of both sexes were either paired with a partner from the same prenatal treatment condition (ethanol or saccharin) or from the opposite condition (mixed housing condition). At four months of age (∼3 months after the housing manipulation commenced), social behavior, tongue protrusion, and behavioral flexibility in the Morris water task were measured as in (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. The behavioral effects of moderate PAE were primarily limited to males and were not ameliorated by housing with a non-ethanol exposed partner. Unexpectedly, social behavior, motor behavior, and spatial flexibility were adversely affected in control rats housed with a PAE rat (i.e., in mixed housing), indicating that housing with a PAE rat has broad behavioral consequences beyond the social domain. These observations provide further evidence that moderate PAE negatively affects social behavior, and underscore the importance of considering potential negative effects of housing with PAE animals on the behavior of critical comparison groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - James P Rice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nathan S Pentkowski
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
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Grace T, Bulsara M, Robinson M, Hands B. Early life events and motor development in childhood and adolescence: a longitudinal study. Acta Paediatr 2016; 105:e219-27. [PMID: 26684020 DOI: 10.1111/apa.13302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
AIM Few studies have reported on early life risk factors for motor development outcomes past childhood. Antenatal, perinatal and neonatal factors affecting motor development from late childhood to adolescence were explored. As sex differences in motor development have been previously reported, males and females were examined separately. METHODS Participants (n = 2868) were from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study. Obstetric and neonatal data were examined to determine factors related to motor development at 10 (n = 1622), 14 (n = 1584) and 17 (n = 1221) years. The Neuromuscular Development Index (NDI) of the McCarron Assessment of Motor Development determined offspring motor proficiency. Linear mixed models were developed to allow for changes in motor development over time. RESULTS Maternal pre-eclampsia, Caesarean section and low income were negatively related to male and female motor outcomes. Lower percentage of optimal birthweight was related to a lower male NDI. Younger maternal age, smoking during early pregnancy and stress during later pregnancy were related to lower female NDIs. CONCLUSION Events experienced during pregnancy were related to motor development into late adolescence. Males and females were influenced differently by antenatal and perinatal risk factors; this may be due to sex-specific developmental pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Grace
- School of Health Sciences; University of Notre Dame Australia; Fremantle Western Australian Australia
| | - Max Bulsara
- Institute for Health Research; University of Notre Dame Australia; Fremantle Western Australian Australia
| | - Monique Robinson
- The Telethon Kids Institute; Subiaco Western Australian Australia
| | - Beth Hands
- Institute for Health Research; University of Notre Dame Australia; Fremantle Western Australian Australia
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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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Kilburn TR, Eriksen HLF, Underbjerg M, Thorsen P, Mortensen EL, Landrø NI, Bakketeig LS, Grove J, Sværke C, Kesmodel US. Low to Moderate Average Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in Early Pregnancy: Effects on Choice Reaction Time and Information Processing Time in Five-Year-Old Children. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138611. [PMID: 26382068 PMCID: PMC4575046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in information processing may be a core deficit after fetal alcohol exposure. This study was designed to investigate the possible effects of weekly low to moderate maternal alcohol consumption and binge drinking episodes in early pregnancy on choice reaction time (CRT) and information processing time (IPT) in young children. METHOD Participants were sampled based on maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. At the age of 60-64 months, 1,333 children were administered a modified version of the Sternberg paradigm to assess CRT and IPT. In addition, a test of general intelligence (WPPSI-R) was administered. RESULTS Adjusted for a wide range of potential confounders, this study showed no significant effects of average weekly maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy on CRT or IPT. There was, however, an indication of slower CRT associated with binge drinking episodes in gestational weeks 1-4. CONCLUSION This study observed no significant effects of average weekly maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy on CRT or IPT as assessed by the Sternberg paradigm. However, there were some indications of CRT being associated with binge drinking during very early pregnancy. Further large-scale studies are needed to investigate effects of different patterns of maternal alcohol consumption on basic cognitive processes in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina R. Kilburn
- Department of Research, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Poul Thorsen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lillebælt Hospital, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Erik Lykke Mortensen
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nils Inge Landrø
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Leiv S. Bakketeig
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jakob Grove
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Claus Sværke
- Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Schambra UB, Goldsmith J, Nunley K, Liu Y, Harirforoosh S, Schambra HM. Low and moderate prenatal ethanol exposures of mice during gastrulation or neurulation delays neurobehavioral development. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2015; 51:1-11. [PMID: 26171567 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Human and animal studies show significant delays in neurobehavioral development in offspring after prolonged prenatal exposure to moderate and high ethanol doses resulting in high blood alcohol concentration (BECs). However, none have investigated the effects of lower ethanol doses given acutely during specific developmental time periods. Here, we sought to create a mouse model for modest and circumscribed human drinking during the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy. We acutely treated mice during embryo gastrulation on gestational day (GD) 7 or neurulation on GD8 with a low or moderate ethanol dose given via gavage that resulted in BECs of 107 and 177 mg/dl, respectively. We assessed neonatal physical development (pinnae unfolding, and eye opening); weight gain from postnatal day (PD) 3-65; and neurobehavioral maturation (pivoting, walking, cliff aversion, surface righting, vertical screen grasp, and rope balance) from PD3 to 17. We used a multiple linear regression model to determine the effects of dose, sex, day of treatment and birth in animals dosed during gastrulation or neurulation, relative to their vehicle controls. We found that ethanol exposure during both time points (GD7 and GD8) resulted in some delays of physical development and significant sensorimotor delays of pivoting, walking, and thick rope balance, as well as additional significant delays in cliff aversion and surface righting after GD8 treatment. We also found that treatment with the low ethanol dose more frequently affected neurobehavioral development of the surviving pups than treatment with the moderate ethanol dose, possibly due to a loss of severely affected offspring. Finally, mice born prematurely were delayed in their physical and sensorimotor development. Importantly, we showed that brief exposure to low dose ethanol, if administered during vulnerable periods of neuroanatomical development, results in significant neurobehavioral delays in neonatal mice. We thus expand concerns about alcohol consumption during the 3rd and 4th weeks of human pregnancy to include occasional light to moderate drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uta B Schambra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
| | - Jeff Goldsmith
- Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, New York, NY 10023, USA
| | - Kevin Nunley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Yali Liu
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Sam Harirforoosh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| | - Heidi M Schambra
- Department of Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Bird CW, Candelaria-Cook FT, Magcalas CM, Davies S, Valenzuela CF, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure enhances GluN2B containing NMDA receptor binding and ifenprodil sensitivity in rat agranular insular cortex. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118721. [PMID: 25747876 PMCID: PMC4351952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol affects the expression and function of glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptors in diverse brain regions. The present study was undertaken to fill a current gap in knowledge regarding the regional specificity of ethanol-related alterations in glutamatergic receptors in the frontal cortex. We quantified subregional expression and function of glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptors (AMPARs, NMDARs, GluN2B-containing NMDARs, mGluR1s, and mGluR5s) by radioligand binding in the agranular insular cortex (AID), lateral orbital area (LO), prelimbic cortex (PrL) and primary motor cortex (M1) of adult rats exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during prenatal development. Increased expression of GluN2B-containing NMDARs was observed in AID of ethanol-exposed rats compared to modest reductions in other regions. We subsequently performed slice electrophysiology measurements in a whole-cell patch-clamp preparation to quantify the sensitivity of evoked NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of AID to the GluN2B negative allosteric modulator ifenprodil. Consistent with increased GluN2B expression, ifenprodil caused a greater reduction in NMDAR-mediated EPSCs from prenatal alcohol-exposed rats than saccharin-exposed control animals. No alterations in AMPAR-mediated EPSCs or the ratio of AMPARs/NMDARs were observed. Together, these data indicate that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure has a significant and lasting impact on GluN2B-containing receptors in AID, which could help to explain ethanol-related alterations in learning and behaviors that depend on this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W. Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | | | - Christy M. Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - C. Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Daniel D. Savage
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Derek A. Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hamilton DA, Barto D, Rodriguez CI, Magcalas CM, Fink BC, Rice JP, Bird CW, Davies S, Savage DD. Effects of moderate prenatal ethanol exposure and age on social behavior, spatial response perseveration errors and motor behavior. Behav Brain Res 2014; 269:44-54. [PMID: 24769174 PMCID: PMC4134935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Persistent deficits in social behavior are among the major negative consequences associated with exposure to ethanol during prenatal development. Prior work from our laboratory has linked deficits in social behavior following moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat to functional alterations in the ventrolateral frontal cortex [21]. In addition to social behaviors, the regions comprising the ventrolateral frontal cortex are critical for diverse processes ranging from orofacial motor movements to flexible alteration of behavior in the face of changing consequences. The broader behavioral implications of altered ventrolateral frontal cortex function following moderate PAE have, however, not been examined. In the present study we evaluated the consequences of moderate PAE on social behavior, tongue protrusion, and flexibility in a variant of the Morris water task that required modification of a well-established spatial response. PAE rats displayed deficits in tongue protrusion, reduced flexibility in the spatial domain, increased wrestling, and decreased investigation, indicating that several behaviors associated with ventrolateral frontal cortex function are impaired following moderate PAE. A linear discriminant analysis revealed that measures of wrestling and tongue protrusion provided the best discrimination of PAE rats from saccharin-exposed control rats. We also evaluated all behaviors in young adult (4-5 months) or older (10-11 months) rats to address the persistence of behavioral deficits in adulthood and possible interactions between early ethanol exposure and advancing age. Behavioral deficits in each domain persisted well into adulthood (10-11 months), however, there was no evidence that aging enhances the effects of moderate PAE within the age ranges that were studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - James P Rice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Lucas BR, Latimer J, Pinto RZ, Ferreira ML, Doney R, Lau M, Jones T, Dries D, Elliott EJ. Gross motor deficits in children prenatally exposed to alcohol: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2014; 134:e192-209. [PMID: 24913787 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gross motor (GM) deficits are often reported in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), but their prevalence and the domains affected are not clear. The objective of this review was to characterize GM impairment in children with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or "moderate" to "heavy" maternal alcohol intake. METHODS A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted. Medline, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, PEDro, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Published observational studies including children aged 0 to ≤18 years with (1) an FASD diagnosis or moderate to heavy PAE, or a mother with confirmed alcohol dependency or binge drinking during pregnancy, and (2) GM outcomes obtained by using a standardized assessment tool. Data were extracted regarding participants, exposure, diagnosis, and outcomes by using a standardized protocol. Methodological quality was evaluated by using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. RESULTS The search recovered 2881 articles of which 14 met the systematic review inclusion criteria. The subjects' mean age ranged from 3 days to 13 years. Study limitations included failure to report cutoffs for impairment, nonstandardized reporting of PAE, and small sample sizes. The meta-analysis pooled results (n = 10) revealed a significant association between a diagnosis of FASD or moderate to heavy PAE and GM impairment (odds ratio: 2.9; 95% confidence interval: 2.1-4.0). GM deficits were found in balance, coordination, and ball skills. There was insufficient data to determine prevalence. CONCLUSIONS The significant results suggest evaluation of GM proficiency should be a standard component of multidisciplinary FASD diagnostic services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara R Lucas
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia;The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, andPoche Centre for Indigenous Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;Physiotherapy Department, and
| | - Jane Latimer
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, and
| | - Rafael Z Pinto
- Pain Management Research Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia;Departamento de Fisioterapia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | | | - Robyn Doney
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mandy Lau
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, and
| | - Taryn Jones
- Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and
| | | | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia;The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney Medical School, andThe Sydney Children's Hospital Networks (Westmead), Westmead, Australia
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18
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Cardenas VA, Price M, Infante MA, Moore EM, Mattson SN, Riley EP, Fein G. Automated cerebellar segmentation: Validation and application to detect smaller volumes in children prenatally exposed to alcohol. Neuroimage Clin 2014; 4:295-301. [PMID: 25061566 PMCID: PMC4107371 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To validate an automated cerebellar segmentation method based on active shape and appearance modeling and then segment the cerebellum on images acquired from adolescents with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and non-exposed controls (NC). METHODS Automated segmentations of the total cerebellum, right and left cerebellar hemispheres, and three vermal lobes (anterior, lobules I-V; superior posterior, lobules VI-VII; inferior posterior, lobules VIII-X) were compared to expert manual labelings on 20 subjects, studied twice, that were not used for model training. The method was also used to segment the cerebellum on 11 PAE and 9 NC adolescents. RESULTS The test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of the automated method were greater than 0.94 for all cerebellar volume and mid-sagittal vermal area measures, comparable or better than the test-retest ICCs for manual measurement (all ICCs > 0.92). The ICCs computed on all four cerebellar measurements (manual and automated measures on the repeat scans) to compare comparability were above 0.97 for non-vermis parcels, and above 0.89 for vermis parcels. When applied to patients, the automated method detected smaller cerebellar volumes and mid-sagittal areas in the PAE group compared to controls (p < 0.05 for all regions except the superior posterior lobe, consistent with prior studies). DISCUSSION These results demonstrate excellent reliability and validity of automated cerebellar volume and mid-sagittal area measurements, compared to manual measurements. These data also illustrate that this new technology for automatically delineating the cerebellum leads to conclusions regarding the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the cerebellum consistent with prior studies that used labor intensive manual delineation, even with a very small sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A. Cardenas
- Neurobehavioral Research, Inc., Ala Moana Pacific Center, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1030, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
| | - Mathew Price
- Neurobehavioral Research, Inc., Ala Moana Pacific Center, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1030, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
| | - M. Alejandra Infante
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Eileen M. Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Sarah N. Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Edward P. Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - George Fein
- Neurobehavioral Research, Inc., Ala Moana Pacific Center, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1030, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
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19
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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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20
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Abstract
Acute alcohol intoxication and chronic alcohol dependence alter the neurologic control of posture and motor function. Ethanol delays the conduction of electric signals from the central nervous system to the muscles controlling posture and impairs the integration of sensory inputs required for maintaining vertical stance. Consequently, alcohol intoxication delays the ability to detect postural changes and enact the appropriate response. Common signs of acute alcohol intoxication include spinocerebellar and vestibulocerebellar ataxia, oculomotor changes, and increased reliance on visuospatial clues. Chronic alcoholism results in postural tremors and excessive sway during quiet stance that can persist even after sobriety is achieved. Underlying neurologic changes due to chronic alcoholism have been found to be associated with these characteristic postural changes and include decreased volume of the anterior superior vermis of the cerebellum, decreased connectivity within the corpus callosum, and overall cortical atrophy. Severity of motor impairments and other symptoms from alcoholism relate to a variety of factors, including duration of alcoholism, age, sex, and other health determinants and comorbidities. Imaging studies highlight the potential for partial recovery from neurologic and motor deficits caused by alcoholism. Emerging evidence on the motor and neurologic changes caused by alcohol dependence may allow for improved treatment and prevention of the morbidities associated with alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Rose
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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21
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Hamilton DA. The importance of measurement precision and behavioral homologies in evaluating the behavioral consequences of fetal-ethanol exposure: commentary on Williams and colleagues ("Sensory-motor deficits in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder assessed using a robotic virtual reality platform"). Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2013; 38:40-3. [PMID: 24299062 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The recent study by Willams and colleagues utilized a novel robotic virtual reality measurement system to measure sensory-motor processing deficits in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). This system and the precise quantitation of distinct constituent behavioral processes may hold considerable utility and importance for the study of FASD-related motor deficits, their neural bases, and translational research efforts using homologous behavioral approaches in animal and human studies..
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Hamilton
- Departments of Psychology and Neurosciences (DAH), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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22
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Nguyen TT, Ashrafi A, Thomas JD, Riley EP, Simmons RW. Children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure have different frequency domain signal characteristics when producing isometric force. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 35:14-20. [PMID: 23238099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To extend our current understanding of the teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the control of isometric force, the present study investigated the signal characteristics of power spectral density functions resulting from sustained control of isometric force by children with and without heavy prenatal exposure to alcohol. It was predicted that the functions associated with the force signals would be fundamentally different for the two groups. Twenty-five children aged between 7 and 17 years with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and 21 non-alcohol exposed control children attempted to duplicate a visually represented target force by pressing on a load cell. The level of target force (5 and 20% of maximum voluntary force) and the time interval between visual feedback (20 ms, 320 ms and 740 ms) were manipulated. A multivariate spectral estimation method with sinusoidal windows was applied to individual isometric force-time signals. Analysis of the resulting power spectral density functions revealed that the alcohol-exposed children had a lower mean frequency, less spectral variability, greater peak power and a lower frequency at which peak power occurred. Furthermore, mean frequency and spectral variability produced by the alcohol-exposed group remained constant across target load and visual feedback interval, suggesting that these children were limited to making long-time scale corrections to the force signal. In contrast, the control group produced decreased mean frequency and spectral variability as target force and the interval between visual feedback increased, indicating that when feedback was frequently presented these children used the information to make short-time scale adjustments to the ongoing force signal. Knowledge of these differences could facilitate the design of motor rehabilitation exercises that specifically target isometric force control deficits in alcohol-exposed children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya T Nguyen
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
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23
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Hepper PG, Dornan JC, Lynch C. Fetal brain function in response to maternal alcohol consumption: early evidence of damage. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:2168-75. [PMID: 22978459 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01832.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of the adverse neurobehavioral effects of maternal alcohol consumption on the fetus have been largely confined to the postnatal period, after exposure to alcohol has finished. This study explored the brain function of the fetus, at the time of exposure to alcohol, to examine its effect on information processing and stability of performance. METHODS Five groups of fetuses, defined by maternal alcohol consumption patterns, were examined: control (no alcohol); moderate (5 to 10 units/wk either drunk evenly across the week or as a binge, in 2 to 3 days); heavy (20+ units/wk drunk evenly or as a binge). Fetal habituation performance was examined on 3 occasions, separated by 7 days, beginning at 35 weeks of gestation. The number of trials required to habituate on each test session and the difference in performance across test sessions were recorded. RESULTS Fetuses exposed to heavy binge drinking required significantly more trials to habituate and exhibited a greater variability in performance across all test sessions than the other groups. Maternal drinking, either heavily but evenly or moderately as a binge, resulted in poorer habituation, and moderate binge drinking resulted in greater variability compared with no, or even, drinking. CONCLUSIONS Decreased information processing, reflected by poorer habituation, and increased variability in performance may reflect the initial manifestations of structural damage caused by alcohol to the brain. These results will lead to a greater understanding of the effects of alcohol on the fetus's brain, enable the antenatal identification of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and lead to the early implementation of better management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Hepper
- Fetal Behaviour Research Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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Ramadoss J, Magness RR. Multiplexed digital quantification of binge-like alcohol-mediated alterations in maternal uterine angiogenic mRNA transcriptome. Physiol Genomics 2012; 44:622-8. [PMID: 22535877 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00009.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic studies on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have utilized either genome-wide microarrays/bioinformatics or targeted real-time PCR (RT-PCR). We utilized herein for the first time a novel digital approach with high throughput as well as the capability to focus on one physiological system. The aim of the present study was to investigate alcohol-induced alterations in uterine angiogenesis-related mRNA abundance using digital mRNA technology. Four biological and three technical replicates of uterine arterial endothelial cells from third-trimester ewes were fluorescence-activated cell sorted, validated, and treated without or with binge-like alcohol. A capture probe covalently bound to an oligonucleotide containing biotin and a color-coded reporter probe were designed for 85 angiogenesis-related genes and analyzed with the Nanostring nCounter system. Twenty genes were downregulated (↓) and two upregulated (↑), including angiogenic growth factors/receptors (↓placental growth factor), adhesion molecules (↓angiopoietin-like-3; ↓collagen-18A1; ↓endoglin), proteases/matrix proteins/inhibitors (↓alanyl aminopeptidase; ↓collagen-4A3; ↓heparanase; ↓plasminogen, ↑plasminogen activator urokinase; ↓platelet factor-4; ↓plexin domain containing-1; ↓tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3), transcription/signaling molecules (↓heart and neural crest derivatives-2; ↓DNA-binding protein inhibitor; ↓NOTCH-4; ↓ribosomal protein-L13a1; ↓ribosomal protein large-P1), cytokines/chemokines (↓interleukin-1B), and miscellaneous growth factors (↓leptin; ↓platelet-derived growth factor-α); ↓transforming growth factor (TGF-α; ↑TGF-β receptor-1). These novel data show significant detrimental alcohol effects on genes controlling angiogenesis supporting a mechanistic role for abnormal uteroplacental vascular development in FASD. The tripartite digital gene expression system is therefore a valuable tool to answer many additional questions about FASD from both mechanistic as well as ameliorative perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayanth Ramadoss
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
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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: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [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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Mattson SN, Crocker N, Nguyen TT. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: neuropsychological and behavioral features. Neuropsychol Rev 2011; 21:81-101. [PMID: 21503685 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-011-9167-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 388] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can cause alterations to the developing brain. The resulting neurobehavioral deficits seen following this exposure are wide-ranging and potentially devastating and, therefore, are of significant concern to individuals, families, communities, and society. These effects occur on a continuum, and qualitatively similar neuropsychological and behavioral features are seen across the spectrum of effect. The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) has been used to emphasize the continuous nature of the outcomes of prenatal alcohol exposure, with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) representing one point on the spectrum. This paper will provide a comprehensive review of the neuropsychological and behavioral effects of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, including a discussion of the emerging neurobehavioral profile. Supporting studies of lower levels of exposure, brain-behavior associations, and animal model systems will be included when appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Mattson
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Simmons RW, Madra NJ, Levy SS, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Co-regulation of movement speed and accuracy by children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Percept Mot Skills 2011; 112:172-82. [PMID: 21466090 DOI: 10.2466/04.10.13.pms.112.1.172-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The study investigated how children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure regulate movement speed and accuracy during goal-directed movements. 16 children ages 7 to 17 years with confirmed histories of heavy in utero alcohol exposure, and 21 nonalcohol-exposed control children completed a series of reciprocal tapping movements between two spatial targets. 5 different targets sets were presented, representing a range of task difficulty between 2 and 6 bits of information. Estimates of percent error rate, movement time, slope, and linear fit of the resulting curve confirmed that for goal-directed, reciprocal tapping responses, performance of the group with prenatal alcohol exposure was described by a linear function, as predicted by Fitts' law, by sacrificing movement accuracy. The index of performance was the same for the two groups: it initially increased, then leveled off for more difficult movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger W Simmons
- School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
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Panzera R, Salomonczyk D, Pirogovosky E, Simmons R, Goldstein J, Corey-Bloom J, Gilbert PE. Postural deficits in Huntington's disease when performing motor skills involved in daily living. Gait Posture 2011; 33:457-61. [PMID: 21256027 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2010] [Revised: 12/08/2010] [Accepted: 12/26/2010] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies of Huntington's disease (HD) have reported motor control deficits for selected fine and gross motor skills. However, no studies have metrically assessed postural control in this clinical group when performing motor skills involved in daily living. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare postural control of individuals with confirmed Huntington's disease and non-gene carriers when completing three functional postural tasks. Eleven individuals with HD (mean age=47.1 years: UHDRS mean=34.5: mean age of HD onset 34.6 years: mean CAG repeat=44.1) and 17 non-gene carriers (NGC) (mean age=39.2 years: UHDRS mean=0.13: mean CAG repeat=20.5) completed three tests on a force plate interfaced with a computer. The tests were a step up and over an obstacle (SUO) test, a sit-to-stand (STS) test, and a step and turn (ST) test. Selected kinematic and kinetic variables were used to quantify postural control. Data were analyzed using MANOVA procedures and discriminant function analysis. HD patients were significantly slower in completing all three tests (HD SUO=2.3 s vs. NGC SUO=1.6 s; HD STS=0.8 s vs. NGC STS=0.5 s; HD ST=1.7 s vs. NGC ST=0.9 s) and developed less rising force during the step up and over test (HD=25.8% body weight vs. NGC=39.4% body weight) but not for the sit-to-stand test. Additionally, sway velocity of the center of gravity (COG) was significantly higher for HD patients when performing the sit-to-stand (HD=4.1°/s vs. NGC=2.9°/s) and step and turn tests (HD=33.7°/s vs. NGC=21.7°/s). HD patients manifest significant postural control deficits when performing motor skills typical of daily living activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Panzera
- School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, United States
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