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Leung ECH, Jain P, Michealson MA, Choi H, Ellsworth-Kopkowski A, Valenzuela CF. Recent breakthroughs in understanding the cerebellum's role in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Alcohol 2023; 119:37-71. [PMID: 38097146 PMCID: PMC11166889 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol during fetal development can lead to structural and functional abnormalities in the cerebellum, a brain region responsible for motor coordination, balance, and specific cognitive functions. In this systematic review, we comprehensively analyze a vast body of research conducted on vertebrate animals and humans over the past 13 years. We identified studies through PubMed and screened them following PRISMA guidelines. Data extraction and quality analysis were conducted using Covidence systematic review software. A total of 108 studies met our inclusion criteria, with the majority (79 studies) involving vertebrate animal models and 29 studies focusing on human subjects. Animal models included zebrafish, mice, rats, sheep, and non-human primates, investigating the impact of ethanol on cerebellar structure, gene/protein expression, physiology, and cerebellar-dependent behaviors. Additionally, some animal studies explored potential therapeutic interventions against ethanol-induced cerebellar damage. The human studies predominantly adopted cohort designs, exploring the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cerebellar structure and function. Certain human studies delved into innovative cerebellar-based diagnostic approaches for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The collective findings from these studies clearly indicate that the cerebellum is involved in various neurophysiological deficits associated with FASD, emphasizing the importance of evaluating both cerebellar structure and function in the diagnostic process for this condition. Moreover, this review sheds light into potential therapeutic strategies that can mitigate prenatal alcohol exposure-induced cerebellar damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C H Leung
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Priyanka Jain
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Marisa A Michealson
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Hyesun Choi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Alexis Ellsworth-Kopkowski
- Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
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2
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Jacquez B, Choi H, Bird CW, Linsenbardt DN, Valenzuela CF. Characterization of motor function in mice developmentally exposed to ethanol using the Catwalk system: Comparison with the triple horizontal bar and rotarod tests. Behav Brain Res 2020; 396:112885. [PMID: 32860829 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Studies with human subjects indicate that ethanol exposure during fetal development causes long-lasting alterations in motor coordination that are, in part, a consequence of cerebellar damage. Studies with rats exposed to ethanol during the neonatal brain growth spurt have consistently recapitulated these deficits. However, studies with mice have yielded mixed results. We hypothesized that the use of highly sensitive motor function tests, such as the Catwalk test, would reliably detect motor function deficits in mice developmentally exposed to ethanol. Venus-vesicular GABA transporter transgenic mice were ethanol exposed during postnatal days 4-9 using vapor inhalation chambers and then subjected to the Catwalk test during adolescence. Catwalk data were rigorously analyzed using an innovative multistep statistical approach. For comparison, motor coordination and strength were assessed with the triple horizontal bar and rotarod tests. Unexpectedly, we found that out of 186 parameters analyzed in the Catwalk test, only one was affected by ethanol exposure (i.e., reduced coupling between left front paw and the right hind paw). In the triple horizontal bar test, ethanol-exposed mice were able to hold to the bars for less time than controls. Surprisingly, ethanol-exposed mice performed better in the rotarod test than controls. These data indicate that neonatal ethanol exposure of mice causes mixed effects on motor function during adolescence. The Catwalk test suggests that gait is generally preserved in these mice, whereas the triple horizontal bar test revealed deficits on motor strength and the rotarod test an increase in motor coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belkis Jacquez
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Hyesun Choi
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - David N Linsenbardt
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
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3
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Martinez M, Rossetto IMU, Neto FSL, Tirapelli LF, Tirapelli DPC, Chuffa LGA, Cagnon VHA, Martinez FE. Interactions of ethanol and caffeine on apoptosis in the rat cerebellum (voluntary ethanol consumers). Cell Biol Int 2018; 42:1575-1583. [DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Martinez
- Department of Morphology and Pathology; Federal University of São Carlos; SP Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz F. Tirapelli
- Department of Surgery and Anatomy; USP-University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | | | | | - Valeria H. A. Cagnon
- Department of Anatomy; Cellular Biology, Physiology and Biophysics, UNICAMP; Campinas SP Brazil
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Goodwani S, Saternos H, Alasmari F, Sari Y. Metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors as potential targets for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 77:14-31. [PMID: 28242339 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that dysfunctional glutamate neurotransmission is critical in the initiation and development of alcohol and drug dependence. Alcohol consumption induced downregulation of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) as reported in previous studies from our laboratory. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, which acts via interactions with several glutamate receptors. Alcohol consumption interferes with the glutamatergic signal transmission by altering the functions of these receptors. Among the glutamate receptors involved in alcohol-drinking behavior are the metabotropic receptors such as mGluR1/5, mGluR2/3, and mGluR7, as well as the ionotropic receptors, NMDA and AMPA. Preclinical studies using agonists and antagonists implicate these glutamatergic receptors in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss the neurocircuitry involving glutamate transmission in animals exposed to alcohol and further outline the role of metabotropic and ionotropic receptors in the regulation of alcohol-drinking behavior. This review provides ample information about the potential therapeutic role of glutamatergic receptors for the treatment of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Goodwani
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; The Neurodegeneration Consortium, Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
| | - Hannah Saternos
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Youssef Sari
- University of Toledo, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
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Perry CJ, Lawrence AJ. Addiction, cognitive decline and therapy: seeking ways to escape a vicious cycle. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:205-218. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Perry
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
| | - A. J. Lawrence
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health; Melbourne VIC Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health; University of Melbourne; Melbourne VIC Australia
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Nirgudkar P, Taylor DH, Yanagawa Y, Valenzuela CF. Ethanol exposure during development reduces GABAergic/glycinergic neuron numbers and lobule volumes in the mouse cerebellar vermis. Neurosci Lett 2016; 632:86-91. [PMID: 27565053 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cerebellar alterations are a hallmark of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and are thought to be responsible for deficits in fine motor control, motor learning, balance, and higher cognitive functions. These deficits are, in part, a consequence of dysfunction of cerebellar circuits. Although the effect of developmental ethanol exposure on Purkinje and granule cells has been previously characterized, its actions on other cerebellar neuronal populations are not fully understood. Here, we assessed the impact of repeated ethanol exposure on the number of inhibitory neurons in the cerebellar vermis. We exposed pregnant mice to ethanol in vapor inhalation chambers during gestational days 12-19 and offspring during postnatal days 2-9. We used transgenic mice expressing the fluorescent protein, Venus, in GABAergic/glycinergic neurons. Using unbiased stereology techniques, we detected a reduction in Venus positive neurons in the molecular and granule cell layers of lobule II in the ethanol exposed group at postnatal day 16. In contrast, ethanol produced a more widespread reduction in Purkinje cell numbers that involved lobules II, IV-V and IX. We also found a reduction in the volume of lobules II, IV-V, VI-VII, IX and X in ethanol-exposed pups. These findings indicate that second and third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure has a greater impact on Purkinje cells than interneurons in the developing cerebellar vermis. The decrease in the volume of most lobules could be a consequence of a reduction in cell numbers, dendritic arborizations, or axonal projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranita Nirgudkar
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, U.S.A
| | - Devin H Taylor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, U.S.A
| | - Yuchio Yanagawa
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, U.S.A..
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Hwa LS, Nathanson AJ, Shimamoto A, Tayeh JK, Wilens AR, Holly EN, Newman EL, DeBold JF, Miczek KA. Aggression and increased glutamate in the mPFC during withdrawal from intermittent alcohol in outbred mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:2889-902. [PMID: 25899790 PMCID: PMC4515187 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-3925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Disrupted social behavior, including occasional aggressive outbursts, is characteristic of withdrawal from long-term alcohol (EtOH) use. Heavy EtOH use and exaggerated responses during withdrawal may be treated using glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists. OBJECTIVES The current experiments explore aggression and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) glutamate as consequences of withdrawal from intermittent access to EtOH and changes in aggression and mPFC glutamate caused by NMDAR antagonists memantine and ketamine. METHODS Swiss male mice underwent withdrawal following 1-8 weeks of intermittent access to 20 % EtOH. Aggressive and nonaggressive behaviors with a conspecific were measured 6-8 h into EtOH withdrawal after memantine or ketamine (0-30 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. In separate mice, extracellular mPFC glutamate after memantine was measured during withdrawal using in vivo microdialysis. RESULTS At 6-8 h withdrawal from EtOH, mice exhibited more convulsions and aggression and decreased social contact compared to age-matched water controls. Memantine, but not ketamine, increased withdrawal aggression at the 5-mg/kg dose in mice with a history of 8 weeks of EtOH but not 1 or 4 weeks of EtOH or in water drinkers. Tonic mPFC glutamate was higher during withdrawal after 8 weeks of EtOH compared to 1 week of EtOH or 8 weeks of water. Five milligrams per kilogram of memantine increased glutamate in 8-week EtOH mice, but also in 1-week EtOH and water drinkers. CONCLUSIONS These studies reveal aggressive behavior as a novel symptom of EtOH withdrawal in outbred mice and confirm a role of NMDARs during withdrawal aggression and for disrupted social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara S. Hwa
- Tufts University Department of Psychology, Medford, MA 02155
| | | | - Akiko Shimamoto
- Tufts University Department of Psychology, Medford, MA 02155
| | | | | | | | - Emily L. Newman
- Tufts University Department of Psychology, Medford, MA 02155
| | | | - Klaus A. Miczek
- Tufts University Department of Psychology, Medford, MA 02155
- Tufts University Department of Neuroscience, Boston, MA 02111
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Zamudio-Bulcock PA, Morton RA, Valenzuela CF. Third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure does not alter complex spikes and climbing fiber long-term depression in cerebellar Purkinje neurons from juvenile rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014; 38:1293-300. [PMID: 24689500 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies indicate that exposure to ethanol (EtOH) during fetal development damages cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). PC proximal dendrites receive glutamatergic input from climbing fibers (CFs) originating at the inferior olive. CF input produces a characteristic response in PCs known as the complex spike (CS). During the first 2 weeks of life in rodents (equivalent to the human third trimester of pregnancy), CF-PC synapses undergo profound refinement. Here, we characterized the impact of EtOH exposure during this period on CF-evoked responses in PCs. METHODS Using vapor chambers, neonatal rat pups and their mothers were exposed to air or EtOH for 4 h/d between postnatal day 2 (P2) and P12 (pup serum EtOH concentration, 0.16 g/dl). The function of CF-PC synapses was characterized using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques in acute slices from the cerebellar vermis. Experiments were performed soon after EtOH withdrawal, when perisomatic CFs are still being eliminated (P15 to P17), and after weaning when CF dendritic translocation is almost complete (P21 to P34). RESULTS Neither the baseline characteristics of the CS (Na(+) spike amplitude, area, coastline index, and afterhyperpolarization [AHP] amplitude) nor the type-1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1)-mediated component of both the CS and AHP were significantly affected by EtOH exposure at P15 to P17 or P21 to P34. The mGluR1-dependent long-term depression (LTD) of CF-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents was not significantly affected by EtOH exposure at P21 to P34. CONCLUSIONS EtOH exposure during the third trimester equivalent neither affected basal characteristics of the CS nor CF-LTD at rat cerebellar PCs from juvenile rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Zamudio-Bulcock
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Idrus NM, McGough NNH, Riley EP, Thomas JD. Administration of memantine during withdrawal mitigates overactivity and spatial learning impairments associated with neonatal alcohol exposure in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014; 38:529-37. [PMID: 24428701 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure can disrupt central nervous system development, manifesting as behavioral deficits that include motor, emotional, and cognitive dysfunction. Both clinical and animal studies have reported binge drinking during development to be highly correlated with an increased risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We hypothesized that binge drinking may be especially damaging because it is associated with episodes of alcohol withdrawal. Specifically, we have been investigating the possibility that NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity occurs during alcohol withdrawal and contributes to developmental alcohol-related neuropathology. Consistent with this hypothesis, administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists MK-801 or eliprodil during withdrawal attenuates behavioral alterations associated with early alcohol exposure. In this study, we investigated the effects of memantine, a clinically used NMDA receptor antagonist, on minimizing ethanol-induced overactivity and spatial learning deficits. METHODS Sprague-Dawley pups were exposed to 6.0 g/kg ethanol via intubation on postnatal day (PD) 6, a period of brain development that models late gestation in humans. Controls were intubated with a calorically matched maltose solution. During withdrawal, 24 and 36 hours after ethanol exposure, subjects were injected with a total of either 0, 20, or 30 mg/kg memantine. The subjects' locomotor levels were recorded in open field activity monitors on PDs 18 to 21 and on a serial spatial discrimination reversal learning task on PDs 40 to 43. RESULTS Alcohol exposure induced overactivity and impaired performance in spatial learning. Memantine administration significantly attenuated the ethanol-associated behavioral alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, memantine may be neuroprotective when administered during ethanol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS These data have important implications for the treatment of EtOH's neurotoxic effects and provide further support that ethanol withdrawal significantly contributes to FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirelia M Idrus
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
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10
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Drew PD, Kane CJM. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and neuroimmune changes. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2014; 118:41-80. [PMID: 25175861 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801284-0.00003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The behavioral consequences of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are serious and persist throughout life. The causative mechanisms underlying FASD are poorly understood. However, much has been learned about FASD from human structural and functional studies as well as from animal models, which have provided a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying FASD. Using animal models of FASD, it has been recently discovered that ethanol induces neuroimmune activation in the developing brain. The resulting microglial activation, production of proinflammatory molecules, and alteration in expression of developmental genes are postulated to alter neuron survival and function and lead to long-term neuropathological and cognitive defects. It has also been discovered that microglial loss occurs, reducing microglia's ability to protect neurons and contribute to neuronal development. This is important, because emerging evidence demonstrates that microglial depletion during brain development leads to long-term neuropathological and cognitive defects. Interestingly, the behavioral consequences of microglial depletion and neuroimmune activation in the fetal brain are particularly relevant to FASD. This chapter reviews the neuropathological and behavioral abnormalities of FASD and delineates correlates in animal models. This serves as a foundation to discuss the role of the neuroimmune system in normal brain development, the consequences of microglial depletion and neuroinflammation, the evidence of ethanol induction of neuroinflammatory processes in animal models of FASD, and the development of anti-inflammatory therapies as a new strategy for prevention or treatment of FASD. Together, this knowledge provides a framework for discussion and further investigation of the role of neuroimmune processes in FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Drew
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Cynthia J M Kane
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
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Sulik KK. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: pathogenesis and mechanisms. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:463-75. [PMID: 25307590 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00026-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of animal model-based studies that have generated information critical to our understanding of the pathogenesis and mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced birth defects, in particular those involving the brain. Focus is placed on the developing organism itself, rather than the mother, placenta, or other extraembryonic tissues. Components of the cascades of alcohol-induced damage that are considered herein are excessive cell death, changes in the cell cycle and proliferation, cell migration, cell morphogenesis, and gene expression as well as free radical damage and interference with cell signaling. The roles played by one or more of these various factors in the genesis of structural and functional birth defects are dependent upon alcohol exposure patterns and dosage, the involved tissue, and the prenatal stage(s) at the time of exposure. Technologic advances and rapidly increasing knowledge in the fields of genetics, cell, developmental, and neurobiology are critical to accurately piecing together experimental evidence in refining our understanding of the genesis of alcohol-induced birth defects, to the planning and execution of future studies, and to applying the knowledge gained to diminish the severity or occurrence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen K Sulik
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Partadiredja G, Sutarman, Yahya TN, Nuryana CT, Susilowati R. Curcumin alters motor coordination but not total number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of adolescent male Wistar rats. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE-JIM 2013; 11:32-8. [PMID: 23464644 DOI: 10.3736/jintegrmed2013006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed at investigating the effects of curcumin on the motor coordination and the estimate of the total number of cerebellar Purkinje cells of adolescent Wistar rats exposed to ethanol. METHODS The total of 21 male Wistar rats aged 37 d old were divided into three groups, namely ethanol, ethanol-curcumin, and control groups. The ethanol group received 1.5 g/kg ethanol injected intraperitoneally and water given per oral; the ethanol-curcumin group received 1.5 g/kg ethanol injected intraperitoneally and curcumin extract given per oral; the control group received saline injection and oral water. The treatment was carried out daily for one month, after which the motor coordination performance of the rats was examined using revolving drum apparatus at test days 1, 8, and 15. The rats were finally sacrificed and the cerebellum of the rats was further processed for stereological analysis. The estimate of the total number of Purkinje cells was calculated using physical fractionator method. RESULTS The ethanol-curcumin group performed better than both ethanol and control groups in the motor coordination ability at day 8 of testing (P< 0.01). No Purkinje cell loss was observed as a result of one month intraperitoneal injection of ethanol. CONCLUSION Curcumin may exert beneficial effects on the motor coordination of adolescent rats exposed to ethanol via undetermined hormetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginus Partadiredja
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
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Early Postnatal Ethanol Exposure: Glutamatergic Excitotoxic Cell Death During Acute Withdrawal. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-012-9308-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Idrus NM, Napper RMA. Acute and long-term Purkinje cell loss following a single ethanol binge during the early third trimester equivalent in the rat. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:1365-73. [PMID: 22404759 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01743.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the rat, binge-like ethanol (EtOH) exposure during the early neonatal period (a developmental period equivalent to the human third trimester) can result in a permanent deficit of cerebellar Purkinje cells (Pcells). However, the consequences of a moderate binge alcohol exposure on a single day during this postnatal period have not been established. This is an issue of importance as many pregnant women binge drink periodically at social drinking levels. This study aimed to identify both the acute and long-term effects of exposure to a single alcohol binge that achieved a mean peak blood EtOH concentration of approximately 250 mg/dl during early postnatal life using a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. METHODS Acute apoptotic Pcell death 10 hours after a moderate dose binge EtOH exposure from postnatal days (PDs) 0 to 10 was assessed using active caspase-3 immunolabeling. Acute Pcell apoptosis was quantified in cerebellar vermal lobules I-X using the physical disector method. Long-term effects were assessed at PD 60 using stereological methods to determine total Pcell numbers in the vermis, lobule III, and lobule IX, following a moderate dose binge EtOH exposure at PDs 0, 2, or 4. RESULTS Acute apoptosis was induced by EtOH on PDs 1 to 8 in a time and lobular-dependent manner. For EtOH exposure on PD 2, significant long-term Pcell loss occurred in lobule III. EtOH exposure on PD 4 resulted in significant long-term Pcell loss throughout the entire vermis. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that a single, early EtOH episode of moderate dose can create significant and permanent Pcell loss in the developing cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirelia M Idrus
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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15
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Chan WM, Xu J, Fan M, Jiang Y, Tsui TYM, Wai MSM, Lam WP, Yew DT. Downregulation in the human and mice cerebella after ketamine versus ketamine plus ethanol treatment. Microsc Res Tech 2011; 75:258-64. [PMID: 21809417 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.21052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
To study the deleterious effects of ketamine and the potential interaction effects between ethanol and ketamine on the cerebellum, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tests were performed on the habitual ketamine users (n = 3) when they flexed and extended their upper limbs. Another fMRI test was performed on the same participants in which they consumed alcohol (12%, 200 mL) 1 h before the test. Downregulation on the activity of cerebellum was observed and the level of activation in the cerebellum decreased dramatically in habitual ketamine users with alcohol consumption before the test. Further studies were performed by using male ICR mice receiving treatment of ketamine only [30 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally (i.p.)] or ethanol only everyday (0.5 mL 12% orally) and those with coadministration of the above dosages of ketamine and ethanol for 3 months. Fewer Purkinje cells were observed in the cerebellar sections of ketamine treated mice under silver staining. For TUNEL test, a significant increase in the apoptotic cells were observed in the cerebella of the ketamine treated mice (P = 0.016) and of those with co-administration of ketamine and ethanol (P < 0.001), when compared with the control. A statistical significance (P < 0.001) in two-way ANOVA test indicated that there might be an interactive mechanism between ethanol and ketamine acting on the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- W M Chan
- Brain Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Idrus NM, McGough NN, Spinetta MJ, Thomas JD, Riley EP. The effects of a single memantine treatment on behavioral alterations associated with binge alcohol exposure in neonatal rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:444-50. [PMID: 21565269 PMCID: PMC3144286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Revised: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The third trimester in human fetal development represents a critical time of brain maturation referred to as the "brain growth spurt". This period occurs in rats postnatally, and exposure to ethanol during this time can increase the risk of impairments on a variety of cognitive and motor tasks. It has been proposed that one potential mechanism for the teratogenic effects of ethanol is NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity during periods of ethanol withdrawal. In neonatal rats, antagonism of NMDA receptors during ethanol withdrawal, with drugs such as MK-801 and eliprodil, has been shown to mitigate some of the behavioral deficits induced by developmental ethanol exposure. The current study examined whether memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist and a drug used clinically in Alzheimer's patients, would attenuate impairments associated with binge ethanol exposure in neonatal rats. METHODS On postnatal day 6, rats were exposed to 6 g/kg ethanol via intubation with controls receiving an isocaloric maltose dextrin solution. Twenty-one hours following the ethanol binge, rats received intraperitoneal injections of memantine at 0, 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg. Ethanol's teratogenic effects were assessed using multiple behavioral tasks: open field activity, parallel bars and spatial discrimination reversal learning. RESULTS Ethanol-treated rats were overactive in the open field and were impaired on both reversal learning and motor performance. Administration of 15 or 20 mg/kg memantine during withdrawal significantly attenuated ethanol's adverse effects on motor coordination, but did not significantly alter activity levels or improve the spatial learning deficits associated with neonatal alcohol exposure. CONCLUSION These results indicate that a single memantine administration during ethanol withdrawal can mitigate motor impairments but not spatial learning impairments or overactivity observed following a binge ethanol exposure during development in the rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirelia M. Idrus
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Ct., Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Nancy N.H. McGough
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Ct., Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Michael J. Spinetta
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Ct., Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Ct., Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Edward P. Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Ct., Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
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Olivary climbing fiber alterations in PN40 rat cerebellum following postnatal ethanol exposure. Brain Res 2011; 1378:54-65. [PMID: 21241681 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2010] [Revised: 12/28/2010] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Developmental ethanol exposure in rats during postnatal days (PN) 4-6 is known to cause significant loss of the cerebellar Purkinje cells. It is not known what happens to the surviving neurons as they continue to develop. This study was designed to quantify the interactions between the olivary climbing fibers and the Purkinje cells when the cerebellar circuits have matured. Rat pups were treated with a daily dose of ethanol (4.5g/kg body weight) delivered by intragastric intubation on PN4, PN4-6, or PN7-9. The interactions between the climbing fibers and the Purkinje cells were examined on PN40 using confocal microscopy. Mid-vermal cerebellar sections were stained with antibodies to calbindin-D28k (to visualize Purkinje cells) and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2, to visualize climbing fibers). Confocal z-stack images were obtained from Lobule 1 and analyzed with Imaris software to quantify the staining of the two antibodies. The VGluT2 immunostaining was significantly reduced and this was associated with alterations in the synaptic integrity, and synaptic number per Purkinje cell with only a single exposure on PN4 enough to cause the alterations. Previously, we demonstrated similar deficits in climbing fiber innervation when analyzed on PN14 (Pierce, Hayar, Williams, and Light, 2010). The present study confirms that these alterations are sustained and further identifies the decreased synaptic density as well as alterations to the general morphology of the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex that are the result of the binge ethanol exposure.
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Idrus NM, Thomas JD. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: experimental treatments and strategies for intervention. ALCOHOL RESEARCH & HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM 2011; 34:76-85. [PMID: 23580044 PMCID: PMC3831616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite the known damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, women continue to drink during pregnancy, creating a need for effective interventions and treatments for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Experimental models can be useful in identifying potential treatments, and this article describes the spectrum of experimental therapeutics that currently are being investigated, including pharmacological, nutritional, and environmental/behavioral interventions. Some treatments target the underlying mechanisms that contribute to alcohol-induced damage, protecting against alcohol's teratogenic effects, whereas other treatments may enhance central nervous system plasticity either during alcohol exposure or long after alcohol exposure has ceased. The insights gained to date from experimental models offer several candidates for attenuating the deficits associated with FASD.
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