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Okazaki S, Otsuka I, Shinko Y, Horai T, Hirata T, Yamaki N, Sora I, Hishimoto A. Epigenetic Clock Analysis in Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:329-337. [PMID: 33296097 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is characterized by severe clinical impairment, considerable social burden, and high mortality and morbidity, which are due to various malformations, sepsis, and cancer. As >50% of deaths from FASD occur during the first year of life, we hypothesized that there is the acceleration of biological aging in FASD. Several recent studies have established genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles as "epigenetic clocks" that can estimate biological aging, and FASD has been associated with differential DNAm patterns. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis using epigenetic clocks. METHODS We investigated 5 DNAm-based measures of epigenetic age (HorvathAge, HannumAge, SkinBloodAge, PhenoAge, and GrimAge) and telomere length (DNAmTL) using 4 independent publicly available DNAm datasets; 2 datasets were derived from buccal epithelium, and the other 2 datasets were derived from peripheral blood. RESULTS Compared with controls, children with FASD exhibited an acceleration of GrimAge in 1 buccal and 2 blood datasets. No significant difference was found in other DNAm ages and DNAmTL. Meta-analyses showed a significant acceleration of GrimAge in the blood samples but not in the buccal samples. CONCLUSIONS This study provides novel evidence regarding accelerated epigenetic aging in children with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Okazaki
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ikuo Otsuka
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yutaka Shinko
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tadasu Horai
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takashi Hirata
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Naruhisa Yamaki
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ichiro Sora
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akitoyo Hishimoto
- From, Department of Psychiatry, (SO, IO, YS, THo, THi, NY, IS, AH), Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, (AH), Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
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Tavanasefat H, Li F, Koyano K, Gourtani BK, Marty V, Mulpuri Y, Lee SH, Shin KH, Wong DTW, Xiao X, Spigelman I, Kim Y. Molecular consequences of fetal alcohol exposure on amniotic exosomal miRNAs with functional implications for stem cell potency and differentiation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242276. [PMID: 33196678 PMCID: PMC7668603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) consumption during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which are characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth restriction and craniofacial dysmorphology. Recently, cell-derived extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles containing several species of RNAs (exRNAs), have emerged as a mechanism of cell-to-cell communication. However, EtOH's effects on the biogenesis and function of non-coding exRNAs during fetal development have not been explored. Therefore, we studied the effects of maternal EtOH exposure on the composition of exosomal RNAs in the amniotic fluid (AF) using rat fetal alcohol exposure (FAE) model. Through RNA-Seq analysis we identified and verified AF exosomal miRNAs with differential expression levels specifically associated with maternal EtOH exposure. Uptake of purified FAE AF exosomes by rBMSCs resulted in significant alteration of molecular markers associated with osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. We also determined putative functional roles for AF exosomal miRNAs (miR-199a-3p, miR-214-3p and let-7g) that are dysregulated by FAE in osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. Our results demonstrate that FAE alters AF exosomal miRNAs and that exosomal transfer of dysregulated miRNAs has significant molecular effects on stem cell regulation and differentiation. Our results further suggest the usefulness of assessing molecular alterations in AF exRNAs to study the mechanisms of FAE teratogenesis that should be further investigated by using an in vivo model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honey Tavanasefat
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- CSUN-UCLA Stem Cell Research Bridge Program, Department of Biology, California State University at Northridge, Northridge, California, United States of America
| | - Feng Li
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kikuye Koyano
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Bahar Khalilian Gourtani
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Vincent Marty
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Yatendra Mulpuri
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Sung Hee Lee
- The Shapiro Family Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Aging Research, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Ki-Hyuk Shin
- The Shapiro Family Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Aging Research, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - David T. W. Wong
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Xinshu Xiao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Igor Spigelman
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Andreu-Fernández V, Planas S, Navarro-Tapia E, Rosa A, García-Algar O. Dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry and total a-b ridge count as biomarkers of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome: Analysis in children adopted from Eastern Europe. Early Hum Dev 2020; 143:104999. [PMID: 32126478 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.104999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermatoglyphics, formed mainly during the second trimester of pregnancy have been used as markers of developmental disturbances. The aim of this study was to examine if dermatoglyphic variation in children adopted from Eastern European countries with differential prenatal alcohol exposure, could be associated with diagnosis of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). METHODS Total a-b ridge count (TABRC), total ATD angle (TATD), palpebral fissure asymmetry and fluctuating asymmetry of the a-b ridge count (FAABRC) and ATD angle (FAATD) were obtained from NO FASD (n = 40) and FASD (n = 145; FAS = 54, pFAS = 64; ARND = 13; ARBD = 14) individuals. NO FASD and FASD subgroups were statistically compared for dermatoglyphic variables. Correlations between dermatoglyphics and FASD diagnosis were also performed. RESULTS TABRC showed significantly higher values in foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS, p = 0.006) and partial FAS (pFAS, p = 0.040) groups compared to NO FASD controls. Similar results were obtained for TATD (FAS, p = 0.015 and pFAS, p = 0.032) compared to controls. Significantly higher values in FAS, pFAS and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND) groups were observed for FAABRC (p = 0.034, p = 0.007, p = 0.007 respectively) and for FAATD in FAS group (p = 0.014) compared to NO FASD. Additionally, FAS group with mean + 2SD in palpebral fissure asymmetry showed statistical significance compared to NO FASD (p = 0.018). Dermatoglyphic variables also correlated (rho, Spearman) significantly with FASD diagnosis. CONCLUSION Dermatoglyphic pattern and FASD are related. The validation of dermatoglyphics as an associated marker with FASD together with the currently diagnostic tools would help clinicians to an early FASD diagnosis in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Andreu-Fernández
- Grup de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Red Salut Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto Carlos III (ISCIIII), Madrid, Spain; Valencian International University (VIU), Valencia, Spain.
| | - Sabina Planas
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Navarro-Tapia
- Grup de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Red Salut Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto Carlos III (ISCIIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Araceli Rosa
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Oscar García-Algar
- Grup de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Red Salut Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto Carlos III (ISCIIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Neonatology, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, BCNatal, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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Carito V, Ceccanti M, Ferraguti G, Coccurello R, Ciafrè S, Tirassa P, Fiore M. NGF and BDNF Alterations by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:308-317. [PMID: 28847297 PMCID: PMC6482479 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170825101308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is now widely established that the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the embryo and fetus development cause marked cognitive and neurobiological deficits in the newborns. The negative effects of the gestational alcohol use have been well documented and known for some time. However, also the subtle role of alcohol consumption by fathers prior to mating is drawing special attention. OBJECTIVE Both paternal and maternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the neurotrophins' signalling pathways in the brain and in target organs of ethanol intoxication. Neurotrophins, in particular nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are molecules playing a pivotal role in the survival, development and function of the peripheral and central nervous systems but also in the pathogenesis of developmental defects caused by alcohol exposure. METHODS New researches from the available literature and experimental data from our laboratory are presented in this review to offer the most recent findings regarding the effects of maternal and paternal prenatal ethanol exposure especially on the neurotrophins' signalling pathways. RESULTS NGF and BDNF changes play a subtle role in short- and long-lasting effects of alcohol in ethanol target tissues, including neuronal cell death and severe cognitive and physiological deficits in the newborns. CONCLUSION The review suggests a possible therapeutic intervention based on the use of specific molecules with antioxidant properties in order to induce a potential prevention of the harmful effects of the paternal and/or maternal alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marco Fiore
- Address correspondence to this author at the Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Roma, Italy; Tel: +3906501703239;, Fax: +3906501703313; E-mail:
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5
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Planas S, Andreu-Fernández V, Martín M, de Castro-Catala M, Bastons-Compta A, García-Algar O, Rosa A. Dermatoglyphics in children prenatally exposed to alcohol: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as a biomarker of alcohol exposure. Early Hum Dev 2018; 127:90-95. [PMID: 30393042 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dermatoglyphics alterations have been demonstrated to be an effective complement in the diagnosis of developmental disorders and a marker of prenatal stress. Several genetic and environmental factors can modify their morphology. Once defined, dermatoglyphics remain constant throughout life, being considered fossilized markers of the intrauterine development. Variations in bilateral morphological traits within an individual reflect developmental disturbances and can be measured by fluctuating asymmetry. The aim of this study was to evaluate if dermatoglyphic variations can be used as a surrogate marker prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during foetal development. Dermatoglyphics from 58 individuals who were either exposed or non-exposed to alcohol during pregnancy (according to the levels of Fatty Acid Ethyl Ethers (FAEE) found in meconium at birth) were analyzed. METHODS Total a-b ridge count (TABRC) and levels of fluctuating asymmetry from the a-b ridge count (FAABRC) were obtained. RESULTS A significant correlation between FA and FAEE levels was found in prenatally alcohol exposed individuals (r = 0.64, p = 0.0032). Remarkably, samples with highest values of FAEEs showed greater FAABRC (6.33 ± 4.18) levels than the values of non-exposed to alcohol (2.87 ± 1.74) as well as the exposed at low concentrations (2.6 ± 1.43) (U = 61, p = 0.05 and U = 14.5, p = 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION Heavy prenatal ethanol exposure (demonstrated by high levels of FAEEs) alters the neuroectoderm developmental program during pregnancy: PAE correlates with FAABRC, which behaves as a dermatoglyphic variable sensitive to FASD and deserves to be studied as a surrogate marker of neurodevelopmental damage during foetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Planas
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vicente Andreu-Fernández
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, IDIBAPS, BCNatal, Barcelona, Spain; Red de Salud Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Martín
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta de Castro-Catala
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriana Bastons-Compta
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, IDIBAPS, BCNatal, Barcelona, Spain; Red de Salud Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar García-Algar
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, IDIBAPS, BCNatal, Barcelona, Spain; Red de Salud Materno-Infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Programa RETICS, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Araceli Rosa
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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6
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Davis-Anderson KL, Berger S, Lunde-Young ER, Naik VD, Seo H, Johnson GA, Steen H, Ramadoss J. Placental Proteomics Reveal Insights into Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:1551-1558. [PMID: 28722160 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe many of the well-known neurodevelopmental deficits afflicting children exposed to alcohol in utero. The effects of alcohol on the maternal-fetal interface, especially the placenta, have been less explored. We herein hypothesized that chronic binge alcohol exposure during pregnancy significantly alters the placental protein profile in a rat FASD model. METHODS Pregnant rats were orogastrically treated daily with alcohol (4.5 g/kg, gestational day [GD] 5 to 10; 6.0 g/kg, GD 11 to 19) or 50% maltose dextrin (isocalorically matched pair-fed controls). On GD 20, placentae were collected, flash-frozen, and stored until tissues were homogenized. Protein lysates were denatured, reduced, captured on a 10-kDa spin filter, and digested. Peptides were eluted, reconstituted, and analyzed by a Q Exactive™ Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap™ mass spectrometer. RESULTS Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis identified 2,285 placental proteins based on normalized spectral counts and 2,000 proteins by intensity-based absolute quantification. Forty-five placental proteins were significantly (p < 0.05) altered by gestational alcohol exposure by both quantification approaches. These included proteins directly related to alcohol metabolism; specific isoforms of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase were up-regulated in the alcohol group. Ingenuity analysis identified ethanol degradation as the most significantly altered canonical pathway in placenta, and fetal/organ development as most altered function, with increased risk for metabolic, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases. Physiological roles of the significantly altered proteins were related to early pregnancy adaptations, implantation, gestational diseases, fetal organ development, neurodevelopment, and immune functions. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the placenta is a valuable organ not only to understand FASD etiology but it may also serve as a diagnostic tool to identify novel biomarkers for detecting the outcome of fetal alcohol exposure. Placental MS analysis can offer sophisticated insights into identifying alcohol metabolism-related enzymes and regulators of fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Davis-Anderson
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Sebastian Berger
- Departments of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emilie R Lunde-Young
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Vishal D Naik
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Heewon Seo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Greg A Johnson
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Hanno Steen
- Departments of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jayanth Ramadoss
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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Boschen KE, Klintsova AY. Neurotrophins in the Brain: Interaction With Alcohol Exposure During Development. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2016; 104:197-242. [PMID: 28215296 PMCID: PMC5997461 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a result of the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the developing fetus. Decades of research examining both individuals with FASDs and animal models of developmental alcohol exposure have revealed the devastating effects of alcohol on brain structure, function, behavior, and cognition. Neurotrophic factors have an important role in guiding normal brain development and cellular plasticity in the adult brain. This chapter reviews the current literature showing that alcohol exposure during the developmental period impacts neurotrophin production and proposes avenues through which alcohol exposure and neurotrophin action might interact. These areas of overlap include formation of long-term potentiation, oxidative stress processes, neuroinflammation, apoptosis and cell loss, hippocampal adult neurogenesis, dendritic morphology and spine density, vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and behaviors related to spatial memory, anxiety, and depression. Finally, we discuss how neurotrophins have the potential to act in a compensatory manner as neuroprotective molecules that can combat the deleterious effects of in utero alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Boschen
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
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8
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Martin SA, McLanahan ED, Bushnell PJ, Hunter ES, El-Masri H. Species extrapolation of life-stage physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to investigate the developmental toxicology of ethanol using in vitro to in vivo (IVIVE) methods. Toxicol Sci 2014; 143:512-35. [PMID: 25410581 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To provide useful alternatives to in vivo animal studies, in vitro assays for dose-response assessments of xenobiotic chemicals must use concentrations in media and target tissues that are within biologically-plausible limits. Determining these concentrations is a complex matter, which can be facilitated by applying physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models in an in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) paradigm. We used ethanol (EtOH), a ubiquitous chemical with defined metrics for in vivo and in vitro embryotoxicity, as a model chemical to evaluate this paradigm. A published series of life-stage PBPK models for rats was extended to mice, yielding simulations that adequately predicted in vivo blood EtOH concentrations (BECs) from oral, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes in nonpregnant and pregnant adult mice. The models were then extrapolated to nonpregnant and pregnant humans, replicating BEC data within a factor of two. The rodent models were then used to conduct IVIVEs for rodent and whole-embryo culture embryotoxicity data (neural tube closure defects, morphological changes). A second IVIVE was conducted for exposure scenarios in pregnant women during critical windows of susceptibility for developmental toxicity, such as the first 6-to-8 weeks (prerecognition period) or mid-to-late pregnancy period, when EtOH consumption is associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Incorporation of data from human embryonic stem cell studies led to a model-supported linkage of in vitro concentrations with plausible exposure ranges for pregnant women. This effort demonstrates benefits and challenges associated with use of multispecies PBPK models to estimate in vivo tissue concentrations associated with in vitro embryotoxicity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheppard A Martin
- *National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency
| | - Eva D McLanahan
- *National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency
| | - Philip J Bushnell
- *National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency
| | - E Sidney Hunter
- *National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency
| | - Hisham El-Masri
- *National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and National Center for Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency
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Kwak HS, Han JY, Choi JS, Ahn HK, Kwak DW, Lee YK, Koh SY, Jeong GU, Velázquez-Armenta EY, Nava-Ocampo AA. Dose-response and time-response analysis of total fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium as a biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure. Prenat Diagn 2014; 34:831-8. [PMID: 24691675 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known on how the dose and timing of exposure co-influence the cumulative concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium. The objective of the study was to assess the cumulative concentration of FAEEs in meconium as a biomarker of light, moderate, or heavy prenatal alcohol exposure occurring at either first, second, or third trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS History of prenatal alcohol exposure was obtained in the 34th week of gestation from 294 pregnant women. Meconium was collected from their babies within the first 6 to 12 h after birth and examined for the presence of nine FAEEs. RESULTS No significant differences were identified between the cumulative levels of FAEEs in the meconium from the babies born to abstainers and those born to mothers with history of light-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure during their pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Light-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure cannot be reliably predicted by the cumulative FAEE concentrations in meconium of exposed babies. A cumulative FAEE level of >10 nmol/g would be required to consider that prenatal alcohol exposure during the second to third trimesters occurred at risky levels in the absence of reliable maternal history of ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Seok Kwak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Khalid O, Kim JJ, Kim HS, Hoang M, Tu TG, Elie O, Lee C, Vu C, Horvath S, Spigelman I, Kim Y. Gene expression signatures affected by alcohol-induced DNA methylomic deregulation in human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2014; 12:791-806. [PMID: 24751885 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2014.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells, especially human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), are useful models to study molecular mechanisms of human disorders that originate during gestation. Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) consumption during pregnancy causes a variety of prenatal and postnatal disorders collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). To better understand the molecular events leading to FASDs, we performed a genome-wide analysis of EtOH's effects on the maintenance and differentiation of hESCs in culture. Gene Co-expression Network Analysis showed significant alterations in gene profiles of EtOH-treated differentiated or undifferentiated hESCs, particularly those associated with molecular pathways for metabolic processes, oxidative stress, and neuronal properties of stem cells. A genome-wide DNA methylome analysis revealed widespread EtOH-induced alterations with significant hypermethylation of many regions of chromosomes. Undifferentiated hESCs were more vulnerable to EtOH's effect than their differentiated counterparts, with methylation on the promoter regions of chromosomes 2, 16 and 18 in undifferentiated hESCs most affected by EtOH exposure. Combined transcriptomic and DNA methylomic analysis produced a list of differentiation-related genes dysregulated by EtOH-induced DNA methylation changes, which likely play a role in EtOH-induced decreases in hESC pluripotency. DNA sequence motif analysis of genes epigenetically altered by EtOH identified major motifs representing potential binding sites for transcription factors. These findings should help in deciphering the precise mechanisms of alcohol-induced teratogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Khalid
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hyun-Sung Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael Hoang
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Thanh G Tu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Omid Elie
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Connie Lee
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Catherine Vu
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics and Biostatistics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Box 957088, 4357A Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Igor Spigelman
- Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 63-078 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Stem Cell & Cancer Epigenetic Research, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-041 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, 73-022 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 8-684 Factor Building, Box 951781, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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11
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Dihydromyricetin prevents fetal alcohol exposure-induced behavioral and physiological deficits: the roles of GABAA receptors in adolescence. Neurochem Res 2014; 39:1147-61. [PMID: 24676702 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-014-1291-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol exposure (FAE) can lead to a variety of behavioral and physiological disturbances later in life. Understanding how alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) affects fetal brain development is essential to guide the development of better therapeutics for FAE. One of EtOH's many pharmacological targets is the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), which plays a prominent role in early brain development. Acute EtOH potentiates inhibitory currents carried by certain GABAAR subtypes, whereas chronic EtOH leads to persistent alterations in GABAAR subunit composition, localization and function. We recently introduced a flavonoid compound, dihydromyricetin (DHM), which selectively antagonizes EtOH's intoxicating effects in vivo and in vitro at enhancing GABAAR function as a candidate for alcohol abuse pharmacotherapy. Here, we studied the effect of FAE on physiology, behavior and GABAAR function of early adolescent rats and tested the utility of DHM as a preventative treatment for FAE-induced disturbances. Gavage administration of EtOH (1.5, 2.5, or 5.0 g/kg) to rat dams on day 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 of pregnancy dose-dependently reduced female/male offspring ratios (largely through decreased numbers of female offspring) and offspring body weights. FAE (2.5 g/kg) rats tested on postnatal days (P) 25-32 also exhibited increased anxiety and reduced pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure threshold. Patch-clamp recordings from dentate gyrus granule cells (DGCs) in hippocampal slices from FAE (2.5 g/kg) rats at P25-35 revealed reduced sensitivity of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) and tonic current (Itonic) to potentiation by zolpidem (0.3 μM). Interestingly, potentiation of mIPSCs by gaboxadol increased, while potentiation of Itonic decreased in DGCs from FAE rats. Co-administration of EtOH (1.5 or 2.5 g/kg) with DHM (1.0 mg/kg) in pregnant dams prevented all of the behavioral, physiological, and pharmacological alterations observed in FAE offspring. DHM administration alone in pregnant rats had no adverse effect on litter size, progeny weight, anxiety level, PTZ seizure threshold, or DGC GABAAR function. Our results indicate that FAE induces long-lasting alterations in physiology, behavior, and hippocampal GABAAR function and that these deficits are prevented by DHM co-treatment of EtOH-exposed dams. The absence of adverse side effects and the ability of DHM to prevent FAE consequences suggest that DHM is an attractive candidate for development as a treatment for prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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12
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Heller M, Burd L. Review of ethanol dispersion, distribution, and elimination from the fetal compartment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 100:277-83. [DOI: 10.1002/bdra.23232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Heller
- North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center; Department of Pediatrics; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Grand Forks North Dakota
| | - Larry Burd
- North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center; Department of Pediatrics; University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Grand Forks North Dakota
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13
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Patten AR, Gil-Mohapel J, Wortman RC, Noonan A, Brocardo PS, Christie BR. Effects of Ethanol Exposure during Distinct Periods of Brain Development on Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity. Brain Sci 2013; 3:1076-94. [PMID: 24961522 PMCID: PMC4061886 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci3031076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 06/15/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders occur when a mother drinks during pregnancy and can greatly influence synaptic plasticity and cognition in the offspring. In this study we determined whether there are periods during brain development that are more susceptible to the effects of ethanol exposure on hippocampal synaptic plasticity. In particular, we evaluated how the ability to elicit long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was affected in young adult rats that were exposed to ethanol during either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd trimester equivalent. As expected, the effects of ethanol on young adult DG LTP were less severe when exposure was limited to a particular trimester equivalent when compared to exposure throughout gestation. In males, ethanol exposure during the 1st, 2nd or 3rd trimester equivalent did not significantly reduce LTP in the DG. In females, ethanol exposure during either the 1st or 2nd trimester equivalents did not impact LTP in early adulthood, but following exposure during the 3rd trimester equivalent alone, LTP was significantly increased in the female DG. These results further exemplify the disparate effects between the ability to elicit LTP in the male and female brain following perinatal ethanol exposure (PNEE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Patten
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Ryan C Wortman
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Athena Noonan
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Patricia S Brocardo
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Brian R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8P 5C2, British Columbia, Canada.
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14
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Abstract
Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy is prevalent, with as many as 12% of pregnant women consuming alcohol. Alcohol intake may vary from an occasional drink, to weekly binge drinking, to chronic alcohol use throughout pregnancy. Whereas there are certain known consequences from fetal alcohol exposure, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, other effects are less well defined. Craniofacial dysmorphologies, abnormalities of organ systems, behavioral and intellectual deficits, and fetal death have all been attributed to maternal alcohol consumption. This review article considers the theoretical mechanisms of how alcohol affects the fetus, including the variable susceptibility to fetal alcohol exposure and the implications of ethanol dose and timing of exposure. Criteria for diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome are discussed, as well as new methods for early detection of maternal alcohol use and fetal alcohol exposure, such as the use of fatty acid ethyl esters. Finally, current and novel treatment strategies, both in utero and post utero, are reviewed.
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15
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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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16
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Hepper PG, Dornan JC, Lynch C, Maguire JF. Alcohol delays the emergence of the fetal elicited startle response, but only transiently. Physiol Behav 2012; 107:76-81. [PMID: 22691707 PMCID: PMC3418491 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Revised: 05/17/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol may exert a significant detrimental effect on the functioning of the individual's brain, however few studies have examined this before birth. This longitudinal study examined the effect of maternal alcohol consumption on the elicited startle response of the fetus. Two groups of fetuses were examined: one whose mothers drank alcohol (approximately 10 units per week); the other whose mothers did not drink alcohol. Fetuses were examined at 29, 32 and 35 weeks gestation and their startle response observed using ultrasound in response to 2 presentations of a pink noise (70-250Hz) at 90dB(A) separated by 30s. Fetuses exposed to alcohol exhibited a weaker startle response at 29 weeks gestation than did fetuses not exposed to alcohol. There was no difference in the response at 32 and 35 weeks gestation. To ensure that the effects were not due to a more general effect of alcohol on fetal movement, a second experiment compared the spontaneous movements (observed on ultrasound for 45 min) of fetuses whose mothers drank alcohol and fetuses of mothers who didn't drink alcohol. There were no differences in movements exhibited by the fetuses. The results suggest that exposure to alcohol delays the emergence of the elicited startle response at 29 weeks gestation but this delay has disappeared by 32 weeks gestation. The possible role of altered neural development, acute exposure to alcohol and disruptions to the fetus's behavioural repertoire, in mediating these effects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Hepper
- Fetal Behaviour Research Centre, School of Psychology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT7 INN, UK
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17
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Han JY, Choi JS, Ahn HK, Kim MH, Chung JH, Ryu HM, Kim MY, Yang JH, Nava-Ocampo AA. Foetal and neonatal outcomes in women reporting ingestion of low or very low alcohol intake during pregnancy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2012; 25:2186-9. [DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2012.684107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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18
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Valenzuela CF, Morton RA, Diaz MR, Topper L. Does moderate drinking harm the fetal brain? Insights from animal models. Trends Neurosci 2012; 35:284-92. [PMID: 22402065 PMCID: PMC3348364 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2012.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 01/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Although public health campaigns advise pregnant women to abstain from ethanol, drinking during pregnancy is pervasive. Here, we highlight recent studies that have clearly demonstrated long-lasting neurobehavioral deficits in the offspring of laboratory animals exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during development. Alterations in learning, memory, motor coordination, social behavior, and stress responses were identified in these animals. Increased vulnerability to substance abuse was also demonstrated. These behavioral alterations have been associated with impairments in neurotransmitter systems, neuromodulators, and/or synaptic plasticity in several brain regions. With this review we hope to contribute to a better appreciation of the potential effects of developmental exposure to moderate ethanol levels, leading to better interventions aimed at relieving fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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19
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Paintner A, Williams AD, Burd L. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders-- implications for child neurology, part 1: prenatal exposure and dosimetry. J Child Neurol 2012; 27:258-63. [PMID: 22351188 DOI: 10.1177/0883073811428376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, approximately 80 000 women consume ethanol through all 3 trimesters of pregnancy each year. In this article, we review prevalence rates of prenatal alcohol exposure in the United States and discuss the mechanisms of prenatal alcohol exposure and placental-umbilical effects. Cigarette smoking and delayed prenatal care are often associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. In addition, increased risk for postnatal adversity is common, including maternal depression, foster care placement, and developmental delay. In part 2, we review prevalence rates and the diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the implications for child neurologists. We discuss management strategies and the importance of a long-term management plan and anticipatory management to prevent the development of secondary disabilities in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Child neurologists play a key role in diagnosis and the development of appropriate intervention programs for affected children and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Paintner
- North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
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20
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Prenatal, early life, and childhood exposure to genotoxicants in the living environment. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2011; 61:455-64. [PMID: 21183437 DOI: 10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Health disorders and diseases related to environmental exposure in children such as cancer and immunologic disturbances (asthma, allergies) are on the rise. However, complex transplacental and prepubertal genotoxicology is given very limited consideration, even though intrauterine development and early childhood may be critical for elucidating the cancer aetiology. The foetus is transplacentally exposed to contaminants in food and environment such as various chemicals, drugs, radiochemically contaminated water and air. Target organs of xenobiotic action may differ between the mother and the foetus due to specific stage of developmental physiology and enzyme distribution. This in turn may lead to different levels of clastogenic and aneugenic metabolites of the same xenobiotic in the mother and the foetus. Adult's protective behaviour is not sufficient to isolate children from radioisotopes, pesticides, toxic metals and metalloids, environmental tobacco smoke, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and various food contaminants, which are just a part of the stressors present in a polluted environment. In order to improve legislation related to foetus and child exposure to genotoxic and possibly carcinogenic agents, oncologists, paediatricians, environmental health specialists, and genotoxicologists should work together much more closely to make a more effective use of accumulated scientific data, with the final aim to lower cancer incidence and mortality.
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Burns E, Gray R, Smith LA. Brief screening questionnaires to identify problem drinking during pregnancy: a systematic review. Addiction 2010; 105:601-14. [PMID: 20403013 DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02842.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Although prenatal screening for problem drinking during pregnancy has been recommended, guidance on screening instruments is lacking. We investigated the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of brief alcohol screening questionnaires to identify problem drinking in pregnant women. METHODS Electronic databases from their inception to June 2008 were searched, as well as reference lists of eligible papers and related review papers. We sought cohort or cross-sectional studies that compared one or more brief alcohol screening questionnaire(s) with reference criteria obtained using structured interviews to detect 'at-risk' drinking, alcohol abuse or dependency in pregnant women receiving prenatal care. RESULTS Five studies (6724 participants) were included. In total, seven instruments were evaluated: TWEAK (Tolerance, Worried, Eye-opener, Amnesia, Kut down), T-ACE [Take (number of drinks), Annoyed, Cut down, Eye-opener], CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener], NET (Normal drinker, Eye-opener, Tolerance), AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), AUDIT-C (AUDIT-consumption) and SMAST (Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test). Study quality was generally good, but lack of blinding was a common weakness. For risk drinking sensitivity was highest for T-ACE (69-88%), TWEAK (71-91%) and AUDIT-C (95%), with high specificity (71-89%, 73-83% and 85%, respectively). CAGE and SMAST performed poorly. Sensitivity of AUDIT-C at score >or=3 was high for past year alcohol dependence (100%) or alcohol use disorder (96%) with moderate specificity (71% each). For life-time alcohol dependency the AUDIT at score >or=8 performed poorly. CONCLUSION T-ACE, TWEAK and AUDIT-C show promise for screening for risk drinking, and AUDIT-C may also be useful for identifying alcohol dependency or abuse. However, their performance as stand-alone tools is uncertain, and further evaluation of questionnaires for prenatal alcohol use is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethel Burns
- School of Health and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, Jack Straws Lane, Marston, Oxford, UK
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this paper we review published studies of alcohol exposure on placentation, placenta growth and function. METHODS We searched PubMed using the MeSH terms: placenta, ethanol, fetal alcohol syndrome and prenatal exposure with delayed effects. We searched the years 1996-2006 and used the references from other articles to expand our search. We limited the search to English only and human only. We excluded studies using choriocarcinoma and animal studies. We grouped the 66 papers into seven topic areas for ease of review. RESULTS Alcohol exposure is associated with placental dysfunction, decreased placental size, impaired blood flow and nutrient transport, endocrine changes, increased rates of stillbirth and abruption, umbilical cord vasoconstriction, and low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal alcohol exposure has a broad range of adverse effects on placental development and function. Additional research on placental development from populations with heavy alcohol exposure should be encouraged. A tissue bank of placentas with detailed assessment of exposure to alcohol, smoking and other relevant data should be considered as a repository to support additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Burd
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA.
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