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Farmer AL, Febo M, Wilkes BJ, Lewis MH. Environmental enrichment reduces restricted repetitive behavior by altering gray matter microstructure. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307290. [PMID: 39083450 PMCID: PMC11290697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Restricted, repetitive behaviors are common symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder. Despite being associated with poor developmental outcomes, repetitive behaviors remain poorly understood and have limited treatment options. Environmental enrichment attenuates the development of repetitive behaviors, but the exact mechanisms remain obscure. Using the C58 mouse model of repetitive behavior, we performed diffusion tensor imaging to examine microstructural alterations associated with the development of repetitive behavior and its attenuation by environmental enrichment. The C57BL/6 mouse strain, which displays little or no repetitive behavior, was used as a control group. We observed widespread differences in diffusion metrics between C58 mice and C57BL/6 mice. In juvenile C58 mice, repetitive motor behavior displayed strong negative correlations with fractional anisotropy in multiple gray matter regions, whereas in young adult C58 mice, high repetitive motor behavior was most strongly associated with lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity in the striatum. Environmental enrichment increased fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity throughout gray matter regions in the brains of juvenile C58 mice and overlapped predominantly with cerebellar and sensory regions associated with repetitive behavior. Our results suggest environmental enrichment reduces repetitive behavior development by altering gray matter microstructure in the cerebellum, medial entorhinal cortex, and sensory processing regions in juvenile C58 mice. Under standard laboratory conditions, early pathology in these regions appears to contribute to later striatal and white matter dysfunction in adult C58 mice. Future studies should examine the role these regions play in the development of repetitive behavior and the relationship between sensory processing and cerebellar deficits and repetitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Farmer
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Bradley J. Wilkes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Mark H. Lewis
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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Rachinas-Lopes P, Rocha IC, Dias T, Tavares M, Neto R, Flanagan C, Neves J. The Effects of Enrichment on Zoo-Housed Scarlet Ibis Behavior. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1903. [PMID: 38998015 PMCID: PMC11240375 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Good zoo animal welfare is commonly promoted with environmental enrichment; however, some species are less likely to be offered enrichment than others. This study tested the effect of enrichment on a group of scarlet ibises from Zoomarine Algarve, Portugal. The study consisted of a first baseline condition, followed by four types of enrichment displays with individual presentations, a post-enrichment condition, and a post-enrichment with all enrichment types presented simultaneously. The enrichment types chosen were physical, with a tidal simulation in the lakes of the enclosure; nutritional, presenting mussels in a plastic mesh tube; sensory, by playing scarlet ibises calls; and tactile, with brushes through the habitat. The data collection was performed for 21 days between January and March 2021, 3 times a day, using scan sampling and instantaneous time sampling every 2 min. The comparison between conditions revealed that most behaviors showed similarity between the baseline and post-enrichment conditions, suggesting that after removing the enrichment, the behaviors returned to their initial baseline. It was also found that each enrichment influenced different types of behaviors and these behaviors also changed depending on the time of day. Exploratory behavior was only associated with the presence of enrichment, and vocalizations were only heard after the sensory enrichment was performed. This study demonstrates that the use of physical and tactile enrichments increased activity and decreased stationary behaviors in this group of ibises and may be used to improve their lives in zoological contexts if included in the housing and husbandry protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Rachinas-Lopes
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARTNET—Aquatic Research Network, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês C. Rocha
- Ispa—Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Dias
- Zoomarine Algarve—Portugal, EN 125 Km 65, Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
| | - Maria Tavares
- Zoomarine Algarve—Portugal, EN 125 Km 65, Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Neto
- Zoomarine Algarve—Portugal, EN 125 Km 65, Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
| | - Carla Flanagan
- Zoomarine Algarve—Portugal, EN 125 Km 65, Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
| | - João Neves
- Zoomarine Algarve—Portugal, EN 125 Km 65, Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
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Ishiwari K, King CP, Martin CD, Tripi JA, George AM, Lamparelli AC, Chitre AS, Polesskaya O, Richards JB, Solberg Woods LC, Gancarz AM, Palmer AA, Dietz DM, Mitchell SH, Meyer PJ. Environmental enrichment promotes adaptive responding during tests of behavioral regulation in male heterogeneous stock rats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4182. [PMID: 38378969 PMCID: PMC10879139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53943-y] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Organisms must regulate their behavior flexibly in the face of environmental challenges. Failure can lead to a host of maladaptive behavioral traits associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders. This maladaptive dysregulation of behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. For example, environmental enrichment produces beneficial neurobehavioral effects in animal models of such disorders. The present study determined the effects of environmental enrichment on a range of measures related to behavioral regulation using a large cohort of male, outbred heterogeneous stock (HS) rats as subjects. Subjects were reared from late adolescence onwards either in pairs in standard housing with minimal enrichment (n = 200) or in groups of 16 in a highly enriched environment consisting of a large multi-level cage filled with toys, running wheels, and shelters (n = 64). Rats were subjected to a battery of tests, including: (i) locomotor response to novelty, (ii) light reinforcement, (iii) social reinforcement, (iv) reaction time, (v) a patch-depletion foraging test, (vi) Pavlovian conditioned approach, (vii) conditioned reinforcement, and (viii) cocaine conditioned cue preference. Results indicated that rats housed in the enriched environment were able to filter out irrelevant stimuli more effectively and thereby regulate their behavior more efficiently than standard-housing rats. The dramatic impact of environmental enrichment suggests that behavioral studies using standard housing conditions may not generalize to more complex environments that may be more ethologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P King
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jordan A Tripi
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Anthony M George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Apurva S Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Polesskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Leah C Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy M Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David M Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne H Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul J Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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Farmer AL, Lewis MH. Reduction of restricted repetitive behavior by environmental enrichment: Potential neurobiological mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105291. [PMID: 37353046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRB) are one of two diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and common in other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The term restricted repetitive behavior refers to a wide variety of inflexible patterns of behavior including stereotypy, self-injury, restricted interests, insistence on sameness, and ritualistic and compulsive behavior. However, despite their prevalence in clinical populations, their underlying causes remain poorly understood hampering the development of effective treatments. Intriguingly, numerous animal studies have demonstrated that these behaviors are reduced by rearing in enriched environments (EE). Understanding the processes responsible for the attenuation of repetitive behaviors by EE should offer insights into potential therapeutic approaches, as well as shed light on the underlying neurobiology of repetitive behaviors. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the relationship between EE and RRB and discusses potential mechanisms for EE's attenuation of RRB based on the broader EE literature. Existing gaps in the literature and future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Farmer
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Mark H Lewis
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Ishiwari K, King CP, Martin CD, Tripi JA, George AM, Lamparelli AC, Chitre A, Polesskaya O, Richards JB, Woods LCS, Gancarz A, Palmer AA, Dietz DM, Mitchell SH, Meyer PJ. Environmental enrichment promotes adaptive responding during tests of behavioral regulation in male heterogeneous stock rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547228. [PMID: 37503161 PMCID: PMC10369912 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Organisms must regulate their behavior flexibly in the face of environmental challenges. Failure can lead to a host of maladaptive behavioral traits associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and substance use disorders. This maladaptive dysregulation of behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. For example, environmental enrichment produces beneficial neurobehavioral effects in animal models of such disorders. The present study determined the effects of environmental enrichment on a range of measures related to behavioral regulation using a large cohort of male, outbred heterogeneous stock (HS) rats as subjects to mimic the genetic variability found in the human population. Subjects were reared from late adolescence onwards either in pairs in standard housing with minimal enrichment (n=200) or in groups of 16 in a highly enriched environment consisting of a large multi-level cage filled with toys, running wheels, and shelters (n=64). Rats were subjected to a battery of tests, including: (i) locomotor response to novelty, (iI) light reinforcement, (iii) social reinforcement, (iv) reaction time, (v) a patch-depletion foraging test, (vi) Pavlovian conditioned approach, (vii) conditioned reinforcement, and (viii) cocaine conditioned cue preference. Results indicated that rats housed in the enriched environment were able to filter out irrelevant stimuli more effectively and thereby regulate their behavior more efficiently than standard-housing rats. The dramatic impact of environmental enrichment suggests that behavioral studies using standard housing conditions may not generalize to more complex environments that may be more ethologically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P. King
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Connor D. Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jordan A. Tripi
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Anthony M. George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Apurva Chitre
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Polesskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerry B. Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Leah C. Solberg Woods
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA, USA
| | - Abraham A. Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David M. Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne H. Mitchell
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon Institute for Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul J. Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Wang AL, Micov VB, Kwarteng F, Wang R, Hausknecht KA, Oubraim S, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. Prenatal ethanol exposure leads to persistent anxiety-like behavior during adulthood indicated by reduced horizontal and vertical exploratory behaviors. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1163575. [PMID: 37090801 PMCID: PMC10117440 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1163575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) caused by prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) consist of many cognitive/behavioral deficits. Studies have reported that PE leads to impairments of learning and memory, attention, executive function, and anxiety. Open field (OF) is a common behavioral model which offers comprehensive ethological information. Here, we analyzed multiple parameters of OF to examine anxiety behavior and habituation after PE. Material and Methods Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged twice/day with 0 or 3 g/kg/treatment ethanol (15% w/v) during gestational day (GD) 8-20, mimicking second-trimester heavy PE in humans. The control and PE adult offspring were subjected to OF task in different ambient light levels with or without acute stress. Results Prenatal ethanol exposure did not influence the overall locomotor activities or habituation in the OF. In lower ambient light, no PE effects could be detected. In higher ambient light, female PE rats showed less activities in the center zone, indicative of increased anxiety. Males show lower activities in the center zone only after acute stress. Rats spent <2% of the time in the center zone compared to >75% of the time in the corner zone where they engaged in frequent rearing activities (vertical exploration; exploratory rearing). Prenatal ethanol exposure led to lower rearing activities in the corner in both males and females. Acute stress masks the PE effects in males but not in females. Discussion The results support that heavy PE leads to persistent anxiety-like behavior during adulthood in both sexes. This conclusion is supported by using multiple parameters of exploratory behavior in the OF, including the rearing activities in the corner to reach reliable quantification of anxiety-like behavior.
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Kwarteng F, Wang R, Micov V, Hausknecht KA, Turk M, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. Adolescent chronic unpredictable stress leads to increased anxiety and attention deficit/hyperactivity-like symptoms in adulthood. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:3779-3791. [PMID: 36348027 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06242-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life adversities during development (e.g., child abuse and neglect) are linked to multiple behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders, which have high comorbidity. However, the impact of adversities during adolescence, a crucial period in early life for these disorders, is understudied. Using a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model in rats, we investigated whether adversities in adolescence could lead to increased anxiety and ADHD-like symptoms in adulthood. METHODS Mid- to late-adolescent (5-7-week-old) male and female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a mild CUS procedure for 2 weeks. Various stressors were applied in an unpredictable way. Rats of both sexes were then trained with a 2-choice reaction time (2-CRT) task during adulthood, which are designed to detect ADHD-like symptoms, including increased impulsivity and lapse of attention. In addition, an open field test was conducted to examine if CUS resulted in a persistent increase in anxiety-like behavior during adulthood. RESULTS Both male and female rats with CUS exposure travelled shorter distances in the open field and spent less time in the center zone, indicating increased anxiety. In the 2-CRT task, rats of both sexes with CUS exposure showed increased impulsivity. Augmented lapses of attention were observed in female but not male rats. CONCLUSION Chronic unpredictable stress during adolescence increases anxiety and leads to ADHD-like symptoms in both male and female rats in adulthood. The deficits are more severe in females than in males. These observations support that adversities during adolescence persistently increase anxiety, which is comorbid with attention deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Kwarteng
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Veronika Micov
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Marisa Turk
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Keita Ishiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Saida Oubraim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - An-Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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Wang R, Martin CD, Lei AL, Hausknecht KA, Turk M, Micov V, Kwarteng F, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. Prenatal ethanol exposure impairs sensory processing and habituation to visual stimuli, effects normalized by enrichment of postnatal environmental. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:891-906. [PMID: 35347730 PMCID: PMC9122102 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) often show processing deficits in all sensory modalities. Using an operant light reinforcement model, we tested whether prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) alters operant responding to elicit a contingent sensory stimulus-light onset (turning on the light) and habituation to this behavior in rats. We also explored whether postnatal environmental enrichment could ameliorate PE-induced deficits. METHODS Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged twice/day with 0 or 3 g/kg/treatment ethanol (15% w/v) during gestational days 8-20, mimicking second-trimester heavy PE in humans. The offspring were reared in a standard housing condition or an enriched condition. Adult male and female offspring underwent an operant light reinforcement experiment with either a short-access or a long-access procedure. A dishabituation test was also conducted to characterize the habituation process. RESULTS In the short-access procedure, PE led to increased operant responding to the contingent light onset in both sexes reared in the standard housing condition. Such an effect was not observed in rats reared in enriched conditions due to an overall decrease in responding. Moreover, rats reared in enriched conditions showed greater short-term habituation. In the long access procedure, PE rats showed increased responding and impaired long-term habituation. The long-access procedure facilitated both short-term and long-term habituation in control and PE rats. CONCLUSION Prenatal ethanol exposure increases responding to contingent light onset and impairs the long-term habituation process. The PE-induced deficits were ameliorated by rearing in the enriched environment and increasing the duration and frequency of exposure to light onset. The PE-induced effects are like increased sensation-seeking, a subtype of sensory-processing deficit that is often observed in individuals with FASD. Our findings could inform a suitable animal model for investigating the underlying mechanisms and possible intervention strategies for sensory deficits in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Anna L Lei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Marisa Turk
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Veronika Micov
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Francis Kwarteng
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Keita Ishiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Saida Oubraim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - An-Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Garcia EJ, Cain ME. Isolation housing elevates amphetamine seeking independent of nucleus accumbens glutamate receptor adaptations. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6382-6396. [PMID: 34481424 PMCID: PMC9869284 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Overdose death rates caused by psychostimulants have increased by 22.3% annually from 2008 to 2017. Cue-evoked drug craving progressively increases and contributes to perpetual relapse. Preclinical models have determined that glutamate receptor plasticity within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) drives amplified cue-evoked drug seeking after prolonged abstinence (>40 days). Isolated condition (IC) rearing increases cocaine and amphetamine (AMP) self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement. We tested the hypothesis that housing in the IC will augment AMP seeking after short and prolonged abstinence from AMP self-administration when compared with rats reared in the enrichment condition (EC). EC and IC male rats acquired stable AMP or SAL self-administration and were tested in a cue-induced AMP-seeking test after 1 and 40 days of abstinence. After the seeking test, the whole NAc was extracted and prepared for western blot analysis. Results indicate that IC rats had more active lever presses during a brief extinction interval and during the cue-induced seeking test. After 40 days of abstinence, IC rats had more active lever presses than EC rats during the cue-induced seeking test. Western blots indicated that the expression ratio between GluA1:mGlur5 was reduced only in IC-AMP-trained rats and the ratio between GluA1:mGlur1 was positively correlated with AMP seeking after prolonged abstinence in IC-AMP rats. These results indicate that IC housing engenders a vulnerable phenotype prone to persistent AMP seeking. The behavioural momentum of this vulnerable phenotype is further revealed when AMP-associated cues are presented following prolonged abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J. Garcia
- Department of Psychological Sciences Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas USA
| | - Mary E. Cain
- Department of Psychological Sciences Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas USA
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10
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Wang R, Martin CD, Lei AL, Hausknecht KA, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure leads to attention deficits in both male and female rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:1122-1135. [PMID: 33730380 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention deficits caused by prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure (PE) are a prevalent condition in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Importantly, the deficits are observed in individuals with FASD who have normal IQs and show no dysmorphic facial features caused by heavy PE. These observations suggest that even moderate PE could lead to attention deficits. This possibility was investigated in the present study using a rat model. METHODS Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were administered EtOH (3 g/kg/day) or vehicle via intragastric gavage on gestational days 8 to 20. The blood EtOH concentration (BEC) in EtOH-treated rats was 87.7 ± 1.2 mg/dl (1 h after the gavage), similar to the BECs reported in other moderate PE studies in rodents. Moderate PE did not produce teratogenic effects on birthweight or litter size. The adult offspring underwent a 2-choice reaction time task. RESULTS Moderate PE led to augmented action impulsivity in both sexes, indicated by more rapid response initiation and more premature responses. Deficits were more marked in males than in females. No greater lapses of attention, assessed by incorrect or relatively slow responses, were observed in rats of either sex with moderate PE. In addition, no deficits in learning or motor function were detected after moderate PE. Interestingly, rats with moderate PE completed more trials than controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that moderate PE leads to attention deficits in both sexes, which is demonstrated by greater action impulsivity, but not more lapses of attention. This effect differs from that of heavy PE, as shown in our previous study, which is manifested as impaired action impulsivity and lapses of attention in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Connor D Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Anna L Lei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Keita Ishiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Saida Oubraim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - An-Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jerry B Richards
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Vitale NL, Jackson ML, Bower BL, Franco S. Dishabituation of Operant Responding in Preschool-Aged Children. PSYCHOLOGICAL RECORD 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40732-020-00391-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Aghaie CI, Hausknecht KA, Wang R, Dezfuli PH, Haj-Dahmane S, Kane CJM, Sigurdson WJ, Shen RY. Prenatal Ethanol Exposure and Postnatal Environmental Intervention Alter Dopaminergic Neuron and Microglia Morphology in the Ventral Tegmental Area During Adulthood. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:435-444. [PMID: 31872887 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) impairs midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neuron function, which might contribute to various cognitive and behavioral deficits, including attention deficits and increased addiction risk, often observed in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Currently, the underlying mechanisms for PE-induced deficits are unclear. PE could lead to neuroinflammation by activating microglia, which play an important role in synaptic function. In the present study, we investigated PE effects on microglial activation and DA neuron density and morphology in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Since postnatal environmental enrichment can reduce neuroinflammation and ameliorate several PE-induced behavioral deficits, we examined if a postnatal environmental intervention strategy using neonatal handling and postweaning complex housing could reverse PE effects on VTA DA neurons and microglia. METHODS Pregnant rats received 0 or 6 g/kg/d ethanol by 2 intragastric intubations on gestation days 8 to 20. After birth, rats were reared in the standard laboratory or enriched condition. Male adult rats (8 to 12 weeks old) were used for immunocytochemistry. RESULTS The results showed that PE decreased VTA DA neuron body size in standardly housed rats. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in numbers of VTA microglial branches and junctions in PE rats, suggesting morphological activation of microglia and possible neuroinflammation. The PE effects on microglia were normalized by postnatal environmental intervention, which also decreased the numbers of microglial branches and junctions in control animals, possibly via reduced stress. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show an association between PE-induced morphological activation of microglia and impaired DA neuron morphology in the VTA. Importantly, postnatal environmental intervention rescues possible PE-induced microglial activation. These data support that environmental intervention can be effective in ameliorating cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with VTA DA neuron dysfunctions, such as attention deficits and increased addiction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia I Aghaie
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | | | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Cynthia J M Kane
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Wade J Sigurdson
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
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Wang R, Martin CD, Lei AL, Hausknecht KA, Ishiwari K, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. Prenatal Ethanol Exposure Leads to Attention Deficits in Both Male and Female Rats. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:12. [PMID: 32038156 PMCID: PMC6992663 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) causes multiple behavioral and cognitive deficits, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Studies show that 49-94% of FASD children exhibit attention deficits, even when they have normal IQs or lack severe facial deformities, suggesting that attention deficits could be caused by even moderate prenatal exposure to alcohol, of which the underlying neural mechanisms are still unclear. A valid rodent model could help elucidate this phenomenon. MATERIALS AND METHODS A second-trimester equivalent binge drinking PE model was utilized. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were administered with 15% (w/v) ethanol (6 g/kg/day, via gastric gavage) during gestational days 8-20, and their offspring were the subjects in the present study. A modified 2-choice reaction time (2-CRT) task was used to illustrate possible attention deficits, including increased action impulsivity and lapses of attention. Enhanced impulsivity was reflected by more premature responses while increased lapses of attention were manifested as more incorrect responses and/or greater variability of reaction time, demonstrated by more skewed distributions of reaction time. Ten-week-old male and female rats were tested for three sessions following 16-19 days of training. RESULTS Our PE paradigm caused no major teratogenic effects. PE led to increased impulsivity exhibited as greater premature responses and augmented lapses of attention shown by greater skewnesses of reaction time distributions, relative to controls. The deficits were observed in both PE male and female rats. Interestingly, in males, the attention deficits were detected only when the 2-CRT task was relatively difficult whereas in females they were detected even when the task was at a less demanding level. CONCLUSION We show that the binge drinking pattern of PE led to attention deficits in both sexes of rats even though no major teratogenic effects were observed. Therefore, this rodent model can be used to study neural mechanisms underlying attention deficits caused by PE and to explore effective intervention approaches for FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Connor D. Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Anna L. Lei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Keita Ishiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jerry B. Richards
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Wang R, Hausknecht KA, Shen YL, Haj-Dahmane S, Vezina P, Shen RY. Environmental enrichment reverses increased addiction risk caused by prenatal ethanol exposure. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 191:343-347. [PMID: 30176547 PMCID: PMC6178821 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) leads to multiple cognitive and behavioral deficits including increased drug addiction risk. Previous studies have shown that rearing environment plays a significant role in impacting addiction risk. In the present study, we investigated if environmental enrichment during development could be effective in lowering the PE-induced increase in addiction risk. To simulate heavy drinking during pregnancy in humans, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received ethanol (6 g/kg/day) or vehicle through intragastric gavage on gestation days 8-20. After weaning, the offspring were reared in either an enriched environment (EE) including neonatal handling and complex housing or an impoverished environment (IE) consisting of barren, single housing. Adult male offspring were then tested for locomotion, performance on the elevated plus maze, and amphetamine self-administration under a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule. Overall, EE rats, compared to IE rats, showed reduced locomotor activity in a novel environment and lower levels of anxiety, irrespective of prenatal treatments. Prenatal ethanol exposure increased amphetamine self-administration at both doses tested (0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg/infusion) and in each case EE, relative to IE, reversed this effect. These findings suggest that postnatal environmental complexity plays a determining role in addiction risk after PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Wang
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; Department of Psychology, Park Hall Room 204, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Ying-Ling Shen
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA; Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Paul Vezina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue MC 3077, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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Wang R, Shen YL, Hausknecht KA, Chang L, Haj-Dahmane S, Vezina P, Shen RY. Prenatal ethanol exposure increases risk of psychostimulant addiction. Behav Brain Res 2018; 356:51-61. [PMID: 30076855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) causes many cognitive and behavioral deficits including increased drug addiction risk, demonstrated by enhanced ethanol intake and behavioral phenotypes associated with addiction risk. Additionally, preclinical studies show that PE persistently changes the function of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, a major neural substrate for addiction, and alters these neurons' responses to psychostimulants. Accordingly, PE could also lead to increased risk of addiction to drugs of abuse, other than ethanol. In the present study, addiction risk was examined utilizing paradigms of amphetamine conditioned place preference (CPP) and intravenous self-administration. Ethanol was administered to pregnant dams via intragastric gavage (6 g/kg, during gestational days 8-20). Behavioral tests were conducted in adult male offspring. Amphetamine at a low dose (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) induced CPP in PE but not control rats, whereas at a higher dose (0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) both groups acquired CPP. There was no group difference in amphetamine-induced CPP reinstatement. Furthermore, PE rats self-administered more amphetamine at a low dose (0.02 mg/kg/infusion) than controls, while no group differences were observed at a higher dose (0.1 mg/kg/infusion). Rats with PE also exhibited greater reactivity to contextual drug cues after extended abstinence and amphetamine-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. These results support that PE persistently leads to increased psychostimulant addiction risk later in life, manifested in many elements of addictive behavior following limited psychostimulant exposure. The observations provide insights into prevention strategies for drug addiction in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixiang Wang
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Department of Psychology, Park Hall Room 204, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Ying-Ling Shen
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA; Graduate Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Lawrence Chang
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Paul Vezina
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue MC 3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Research Institute on Addictions and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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