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Vieiros M, Navarro-Tapia E, Ramos-Triguero A, García-Meseguer À, Martínez L, García-Algar Ó, Andreu-Fernández V. Analysis of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes genetic variants and RAR/RXR expression in patients diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome: a case-control study. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:610. [PMID: 38886650 PMCID: PMC11184718 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10516-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying alcohol metabolism and its regulation, including the effect of polymorphisms in alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, is crucial for research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The aim of this study was to identify specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in key alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in a cohort of 71 children, including children with fetal alcohol syndrome, children prenatally exposed to ethanol but without fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and controls. We hypothesized that certain genetic variants related to alcohol metabolism may be fixed in these populations, giving them a particular alcohol metabolism profile. In addition, the difference in certain isoforms of these enzymes determines their affinity for alcohol, which also affects the metabolism of retinoic acid, which is key to the proper development of the central nervous system. Our results showed that children prenatally exposed to ethanol without fetal alcohol spectrum disorder traits had a higher frequency of the ADH1B*3 and ADH1C*1 alleles, which are associated with increased alcohol metabolism and therefore a protective factor against circulating alcohol in the fetus after maternal drinking, compared to FAS children who had an allele with a lower affinity for alcohol. This study also revealed the presence of an ADH4 variant in the FAS population that binds weakly to the teratogen, allowing increased circulation of the toxic agent and direct induction of developmental abnormalities in the fetus. However, both groups showed dysregulation in the expression of genes related to the retinoic acid pathway, such as retinoic acid receptor and retinoid X receptor, which are involved in the development, regeneration, and maintenance of the nervous system. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the interplay between alcohol metabolism, the retinoic acid pathway and genetic factors in the development of fetal alcohol syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Vieiros
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- IdiPAZ - Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabet Navarro-Tapia
- IdiPAZ - Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Anna Ramos-Triguero
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Àgueda García-Meseguer
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leopoldo Martínez
- IdiPAZ - Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar García-Algar
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Neonatology, Hospital Clínic-Maternitat, ICGON, BCNatal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vicente Andreu-Fernández
- Grup de Recerca Infància i Entorn (GRIE), Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- Biosanitary Research Institute, Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain.
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Mazumdar R, Eberhart JK. Loss of Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase sensitizes embryos to ethanol-induced neural crest and neural apoptosis via generation of reactive oxygen species. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1154621. [PMID: 37360166 PMCID: PMC10289183 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1154621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a continuum of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD are the most common environmentally induced birth defect and are highly variable. The genetics of an individual influence the severity of their FASD phenotype. However, the genes that sensitize an individual to ethanol-induced birth defects are largely unknown. The ethanol-sensitive mouse substrain, C57/B6J, carries several known mutations including one in Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (Nnt). Nnt is a mitochondrial transhydrogenase thought to have an important role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS has been implicated in ethanol teratogenesis. To directly test the role of Nnt in ethanol teratogenesis, we generated zebrafish nnt mutants via CRISPR/Cas9. Zebrafish embryos were dosed with varying concentrations of ethanol across different timepoints and assessed for craniofacial malformations. We utilized a ROS assay to determine if this could be a contributing factor of these malformations. We found that exposed and unexposed mutants had higher levels of ROS compared to their wildtype counterparts. When treated with ethanol, nnt mutants experienced elevated apoptosis in the brain and neural crest, a defect that was rescued by administration of the antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). NAC treatment also rescued most craniofacial malformations. Altogether this research demonstrates that ethanol-induced oxidative stress leads to craniofacial and neural defects due to apoptosis in nnt mutants. This research further supports the growing body of evidence implicating oxidative stress in ethanol teratogenesis. These findings suggest that antioxidants can be used as a potential therapeutic in the treatment of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayna Mazumdar
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Johann K. Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Tokunaga Y, Otsuyama KI, Kakuta S, Hayashida N. Heat Shock Transcription Factor 2 Is Significantly Involved in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cancer, Male Infertility, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The Novel Mechanisms of Several Severe Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213763. [PMID: 36430241 PMCID: PMC9691173 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
HSF (heat shock transcription factor or heat shock factor) was discovered as a transcription factor indispensable for heat shock response. Although four classical HSFs were discovered in mammals and two major HSFs, HSF1 and HSF2, were cloned in the same year of 1991, only HSF1 was intensively studied because HSF1 can give rise to heat shock response through the induction of various HSPs' expression. On the other hand, HSF2 was not well studied for some time, which was probably due to an underestimate of HSF2 itself. Since the beginning of the 21st century, HSF2 research has progressed and many biologically significant functions of HSF2 have been revealed. For example, the roles of HSF2 in nervous system protection, inflammation, maintenance of mitosis and meiosis, and cancer cell survival and death have been gradually unveiled. However, we feel that the fact HSF2 has a relationship with various factors is not yet widely recognized; therefore, the biological significance of HSF2 has been underestimated. We strongly hope to widely communicate the significance of HSF2 to researchers and readers in broad research fields through this review. In addition, we also hope that many readers will have great interest in the molecular mechanism in which HSF2 acts as an active transcription factor and gene bookmarking mechanism of HSF2 during cell cycle progression, as is summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Tokunaga
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
- Institute of Gene Research, Yamaguchi University Science Research Center, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichiro Otsuyama
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kakuta
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Naoki Hayashida
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-836-22-2359
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Abebe MS, Seyoum G, Emamu B, Teshome D. Congenital Hydrocephalus and Associated Risk Factors: An Institution-Based Case–Control Study, Dessie Town, North East Ethiopia. Pediatric Health Med Ther 2022; 13:175-182. [PMID: 35592592 PMCID: PMC9112341 DOI: 10.2147/phmt.s364447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Congenital hydrocephalus is one of the commonest congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. It is characterized by extensive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles of the brain due to an imbalance between synthesis and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. This study was planned to investigate the incidence and associated risk factors of congenital hydrocephalus. Methods Unmatched case–control study was conducted in 34 (cases) and 104 (controls) pregnant women. Maternal data were collected from a structured questionnaire, and fetal-related data were recorded from obstetric ultrasound. Epi-info 7 and SPSS version 24 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. The association between congenital hydrocephalus and risk factors was evaluated using binary logistic regression. Results The incidence of congenital hydrocephalus was 2.67 per 1000 pregnancies. The result of multivariate logistic regression indicated that alcohol use and iron with folic acid supplementation during pregnancy were significantly associated with the development of congenital hydrocephalus (OR: 7.64, 95% CI: 1.97–29.66 and p-value: 0.003 and OR: 0.186, 95% CI: 0.07–0.49 and p-value: 0.001, respectively). Maternal exposure to typhus and typhoid and use of antibiotics during early pregnancy were also significantly associated with congenital hydrocephalus. Moreover, significant association was also observed between the simultaneous development of spina bifida and congenital hydrocephalus (p-value 0.03). Conclusion In conclusion, alcohol consumption, unprescribed use of antibiotics and infection during pregnancy as well as absence of folic acid supplementation may predispose to congenital hydrocephalus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melese Shenkut Abebe
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Melese Shenkut Abebe, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia, Email
| | - Girma Seyoum
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Bahru Emamu
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Demissie Teshome
- Department of Radiography, Dessie Health Science College, Dessie, Ethiopia
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Brown J, Jonason A, Asp E, McGinn V, Carter MN, Spiller V, Jozan A. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and confabulation in psycholegal settings: A beginner's guide for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal interviewers. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2022; 40:46-86. [PMID: 34689366 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are neurodevelopmental/neurobehavioral conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Impairments caused by PAE contribute to the over-representation of individuals with FASD in the United States juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. These same impairments can equally impact on individuals with FASD who are witnesses to or victims of crime who also have to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system. Difficulties include increased susceptibility to confabulation throughout the legal process that, in turn, can contribute to increased rates of poor outcomes including false confessions and wrongful convictions. Individuals with FASD are particularity at risk of confabulation when they are subjected to tactics, such as stressful and anxiety-provoking situations, threats, and leading, suggestive, or coercive questioning. Many professionals in the forensic context are unfamiliar with FASD or related confabulation risk and may unintentionally utilize tactics that intensify impacts of pre-existing impairment. This article serves as a beginner's guide for professionals working in criminal justice settings by (a) providing research-based overviews of FASD and confabulation, (b) describing how FASD may lead to confabulation, and (c) suggesting ways that professionals can modify protocols when interacting with individuals with FASD. Suggestions in this article hold the potential to decrease the risk of confabulation in the criminal justice system and decrease problematic outcomes, such as false confessions and wrongful convictions among individuals with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrod Brown
- Pathways Counseling Center, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alec Jonason
- Department of Psychology, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Wesley & Lorene Artz Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Erik Asp
- Department of Psychology, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Wesley & Lorene Artz Cognitive Neuroscience Research Center, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Valerie McGinn
- The FASD Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Megan N Carter
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Social and Health Services, Special Commitment Center, Steilacoom, Washington, USA
| | | | - Amy Jozan
- American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Newville J, Howard TA, Chavez GJ, Valenzuela CF, Cunningham LA. Persistent myelin abnormalities in a third trimester-equivalent mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:77-86. [PMID: 34825395 PMCID: PMC8799509 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal diffusion within white matter (WM) tracts has been linked to cognitive impairment in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Whether changes to myelin organization and structure underlie the observed abnormal diffusion patterns remains unknown. Using a third trimester-equivalent mouse model of alcohol exposure, we previously demonstrated acute loss of oligodendrocyte lineage cells with persistent loss of myelin basic protein and lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum (CC). Here, we tested whether these WM deficits are accompanied by changes in: (i) axial diffusion (AD) and radial diffusion (RD), (ii) myelin ultrastructure, or (iii) structural components of the node of Ranvier. METHODS Mouse pups were exposed to alcohol or air vapor for 4 h daily from postnatal day (P)3 to P15 (BEC: 160.4 ± 12.0 mg/dl; range = 128.2 to 185.6 mg/dl). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and histological analyses were performed on brain tissue isolated at P50. Diffusion parameters were measured with Paravision™ 5.1 software (Bruker) following ex vivo scanning in a 7.0 T MRI. Nodes of Ranvier were identified using high-resolution confocal imaging of immunofluorescence for Nav 1.6 (nodes) and Caspr (paranodes) and measured using Imaris™ imaging software (Bitplane). Myelin ultrastructure was evaluated by calculating the G-ratio (axonal diameter/myelinated fiber diameter) on images acquired using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Consistent with our previous study, high resolution DTI at P50 showed lower FA in the CC of alcohol-exposed mice (p = 0.0014). Here, we show that while AD (diffusion parallel to CC axons) was similar between treatment groups (p = 0.30), RD (diffusion perpendicular to CC axons) in alcohol-exposed subjects was significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.0087). In the posterior CC, where we identified the highest degree of abnormal diffusion, node of Ranvier length did not differ between treatment groups (p = 0.41); however, the G-ratio of myelinated axons was significantly higher in alcohol-exposed animals than controls (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS High resolution DTI revealed higher RD at P50 in the CC of alcohol-exposed animals, suggesting less myelination of axons, particularly in the posterior regions. In agreement with these findings, ultrastructural analysis of myelinated axons in the posterior CC showed reduced myelin thickness in alcohol-exposed animals, evidenced by a higher G-ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Newville
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Tamara A. Howard
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Glenna J. Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
| | - C. Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Lee Anna Cunningham
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
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Jacobson SW, Hoyme HE, Carter RC, Dodge NC, Molteno CD, Meintjes EM, Jacobson JL. Evolution of the Physical Phenotype of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders from Childhood through Adolescence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:395-408. [PMID: 33320363 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This paper reports findings from the first longitudinal study on the evolution of the physical phenotypes of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and partial FAS (PFAS) from early childhood through adolescence. METHODS The sample consisted of 155 children (78 males and 77 females) born to women recruited at an antenatal clinic serving a Cape Coloured (mixed ancestry) population in Cape Town, South Africa. Two expert FASD dysmorphologists, blind regarding prenatal alcohol exposure, independently evaluated each child's growth and dysmorphology at 4 clinics conducted over an 11-year period. Case conferences were held to reach consensus regarding which children had FAS or PFAS growth and physical features using the Revised Institute of Medicine (2005) guidelines. RESULTS The prevalence of the physical phenotype was stable across the 4 ages for about half of the children with FAS and about one-third of those with PFAS but more variable for the others. Test-retest reliability was substantial for the FAS phenotype, but poorer for PFAS. Two distinct patterns were seen: a "strong phenotype" that was consistently identified and a less consistent one in which dysmorphic features and/or anthropometric deficits fluctuated or diminished with age. The physical phenotype was most apparent during early childhood and least apparent during puberty, due to differences in timing of the growth spurt and the evolving adult face. Short palpebral features and small head circumference diminished with age, flat philtrum fluctuated, while thin vermilion and weight and height restriction were stable. CONCLUSIONS Key facial features that characterize FASD in early childhood diminish or evolve in some individuals, making diagnostic examinations that rely on these characteristics most sensitive during early childhood and school age. Moreover, puberty poses classification problems due to variability in timing of the growth spurt. Given that several features and small head circumference diminished with age, many individuals would be misdiagnosed if only examined at a later age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - H Eugene Hoyme
- Sanford Children's Genomic Medicine Consortium, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - R Colin Carter
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neil C Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Sawant OB, Meng C, Wu G, Washburn SE. Prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal glutamine supplementation alter the mTOR signaling pathway in ovine fetal cerebellum and skeletal muscle. Alcohol 2020; 89:93-102. [PMID: 32777475 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes fetal neurodevelopmental damage and growth restriction. Among regions of the brain, the cerebellum is the most vulnerable to developmental alcohol exposure. Despite vast research in the field, there is still a need to identify specific mechanisms by which alcohol causes this damage in order to design effective therapeutic interventions. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to be associated with axonal regeneration, dendritic arborization, synaptic plasticity, cellular growth, autophagy, and many other cellular processes. Glutamine and glutamine-related amino acids play a key role in fetal development and are known to alter the mTOR pathway; recent research has shown that disturbances in their bioavailability and signaling pathways may mediate adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. This study investigated the role of the mTOR signaling pathway in the fetal cerebellum and skeletal muscle after third trimester-equivalent prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal l-glutamine (GLN) supplementation using a sheep model. Fetal cerebella and skeletal muscles were sampled for Western blot analysis of mTOR and its downstream targets S6 kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-bindin protein (4E-BP1). The expression of cerebellar phosphorylated mTOR relative to the total mTOR was elevated in the alcohol+GLN group compared to the saline and GLN groups. Alcohol exposure increased the ratio of phosphorylated S6K to total S6K in fetal cerebellum, and no significant effect of GLN supplementation was observed. On contrary, maternal GLN supplementation reduced the activation of mTOR and S6K in fetal skeletal muscle, possibly to make GLN and other amino acids available for use by other organs. These findings suggest prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal GLN supplementation during the third trimester-equivalent alter the mTOR signaling cascade, which plays a possible key role in alcohol-induced developmental damage.
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Sullivan EV, Moore EM, Lane B, Pohl KM, Riley EP, Pfefferbaum A. Graded Cerebellar Lobular Volume Deficits in Adolescents and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4729-4746. [PMID: 32133485 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive prenatal developmental growth period of the cerebellum renders it vulnerable to unhealthy environmental agents, especially alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is marked by neurodysmorphology including cerebral and cerebellar volume deficits, but the cerebellar lobular deficit profile has not been delineated. Legacy MRI data of 115 affected and 59 unaffected adolescents and young adults were analyzed for lobular gray matter volume and revealed graded deficits supporting a spectrum of severity. Graded deficits were salient in intracranial volume (ICV), where the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) group was smaller than the fetal alcohol effects (FAE) group, which was smaller than the controls. Adjusting for ICV, volume deficits were present in VIIB and VIIIA of the FAE group and were more widespread in FAS and included lobules I, II, IV, V, VI, Crus II, VIIB, and VIIIA. Graded deficits (FAS < FAE) were consistently present in lobules VI; neither group showed volume deficits in Crus I or IX. Neuroradiological readings blind to diagnosis identified 20 anomalies, 8 involving the cerebellum, 5 of which were in the FAS group. We speculate that the regional cerebellar FASD-related volume deficits may contribute to diagnostically characteristic functional impairment involving emotional control, visuomotor coordination, and postural stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Barton Lane
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kilian M Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Edward P Riley
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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10
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Treit S, Jeffery D, Beaulieu C, Emery D. Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:455-462. [PMID: 31840819 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Although case studies have demonstrated striking visible brain abnormalities in humans (enlargement of the lateral ventricles, thinning or absence of the corpus callosum, etc.), few studies have systematically determined how these radiological findings generalize to the wider population of individuals living with FASD. METHODS This study examines rates of structural brain anomalies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as determined by 2 radiologists in a retrospective blinded review of 163 controls and 164 individuals with PAE who were previously scanned as participants of past research studies. Incidental findings were categorized as normal variants, nonclinically significant incidental findings, or clinically significant incidental findings. Rates were compared between diagnostic subgroups using chi-square analysis. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the overall rate of incidental findings between groups: 75% of controls and 73% of PAE participants had no incidental findings of any kind, and only 1% of controls and 3% of PAE participants had incidental finding of clinical significance (the remaining findings were considered nonsignificant anomalies or normal variants). When the PAE group was split by diagnosis, low-lying cerebellar tonsils, polymicrogyria, and ventricular asymmetry/enlargement were all most prevalent in subjects with fetal alcohol syndrome/partial fetal alcohol syndrome. In addition, the overall rate of incidental findings was higher (41%) in participants with FAS/pFAS, compared to 25% in controls. No participants in this relatively large sample had corpus callosum agenesis. CONCLUSIONS Although advanced quantitative MRI research has uncovered a range of differences in brain structure associated with FASD, this qualitative radiological study suggests that routine clinical MRI does not reveal a consistent pattern of brain abnormalities that can be used diagnostically in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Treit
- From the, Department of Biomedical Engineering, (ST, CB), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dean Jeffery
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, (DJ, DE), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- From the, Department of Biomedical Engineering, (ST, CB), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Derek Emery
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, (DJ, DE), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Dremmen MHG, Bouhuis RH, Blanken LME, Muetzel RL, Vernooij MW, Marroun HE, Jaddoe VWV, Verhulst FC, Tiemeier H, White T. Cavum Septum Pellucidum in the General Pediatric Population and Its Relation to Surrounding Brain Structure Volumes, Cognitive Function, and Emotional or Behavioral Problems. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:340-346. [PMID: 30679220 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a5939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cavum septum pellucidum, a cavity filled with CSF, is localized between the 2 lateral ventricles of the brain. The cavum is present in all neonates, but it typically closes within 5 months after birth. In some cases, this closure does not occur and a persistent or enlarged cavum septum pellucidum has been linked, in some studies, to psychiatric disorders. However, the clinical relevance in the general population is unknown. In this study, we examined the relationship between the cavum septum pellucidum and volumes of brain structures, cognitive function, and emotional and behavioral problems in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a prospective cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. MR imaging studies of 1070 children, 6-10 years of age, were systematically evaluated for the presence and length of a persistent cavum septum pellucidum. An enlarged cavum septum pellucidum was defined as a cavum length of ≥6 mm. Groups without, with persistent, and with enlarged cavum septi pellucidi were compared for brain structure volumes, nonverbal intelligence, and emotional and behavioral problems. RESULTS The prevalence of cavum septi pellucidi in our sample was 4.6%. Children with an enlarged cavum septum pellucidum had a larger corpus callosum, greater thalamic and total white matter-to-total brain volume ratio, and smaller lateral ventricle volumes. We did not find a relationship between cavum septi pellucidi and cognitive function or emotional and behavioral problems. CONCLUSIONS The cavum septum pellucidum is a normal structural brain variation without clinical implications in this population-based sample of school-aged children.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H G Dremmen
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.H.G.D., R.H.B., M.W.V., T.W.)
| | - R H Bouhuis
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.H.G.D., R.H.B., M.W.V., T.W.)
| | - L M E Blanken
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
- Generation R Study Group (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M.), Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R L Muetzel
- Epidemiology (R.L.M., M.W.V., V.W.V.J.)
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
- Generation R Study Group (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M.), Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M W Vernooij
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.H.G.D., R.H.B., M.W.V., T.W.)
- Epidemiology (R.L.M., M.W.V., V.W.V.J.)
| | - H E Marroun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
- Generation R Study Group (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M.), Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - V W V Jaddoe
- Epidemiology (R.L.M., M.W.V., V.W.V.J.)
- Pediatrics (V.W.V.J.), Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - F C Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine (F.C.V.), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
- Harvard School of Public Health (H.T.), Boston, Massachusetts
| | - T White
- From the Departments of Radiology (M.H.G.D., R.H.B., M.W.V., T.W.)
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (L.M.E.B., R.L.M., H.E.M., F.C.V., H.T., T.W.)
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Raine
- Departments of Criminology; Psychiatry, and Psychology; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Pennsylvania
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13
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Georgieff MK, Tran PV, Carlson ES. Atypical fetal development: Fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deprivation, teratogens, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology. Dev Psychopathol 2018; 30:1063-1086. [PMID: 30068419 PMCID: PMC6074054 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579418000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that the fetal environment plays an important role in brain development and sets the brain on a trajectory across the life span. An abnormal fetal environment results when factors that should be present during a critical period of development are absent or when factors that should not be in the developing brain are present. While these factors may acutely disrupt brain function, the real cost to society resides in the long-term effects, which include important mental health issues. We review the effects of three factors, fetal alcohol exposure, teratogen exposure, and nutrient deficiencies, on the developing brain and the consequent risk for developmental psychopathology. Each is reviewed with respect to the evidence found in epidemiological and clinical studies in humans as well as preclinical molecular and cellular studies that explicate mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phu V Tran
- University of Minnesota School of Medicine
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14
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Goldberg LR, Gould TJ. Multigenerational and transgenerational effects of paternal exposure to drugs of abuse on behavioral and neural function. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 50:2453-2466. [PMID: 29949212 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Addictions are highly heritable disorders, with heritability estimates ranging from 39% to 72%. Multiple studies suggest a link between paternal drug abuse and addiction in their children. However, patterns of inheritance cannot be explained purely by Mendelian genetic mechanisms. Exposure to drugs of abuse results in epigenetic changes that may be passed on through the germline. This mechanism of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance may provide a link between paternal drug exposure and addiction susceptibility in the offspring. Recent studies have begun to investigate the effect of paternal drug exposure on behavioral and neurobiological phenotypes in offspring of drug-exposed fathers in rodent models. This review aims to discuss behavioral and neural effects of paternal exposure to alcohol, cocaine, opioids, and nicotine. Although a special focus will be on addiction-relevant behaviors, additional behavioral effects including cognition, anxiety, and depressive-like behaviors will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa R Goldberg
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Thomas J Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16801, USA
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Raine
- Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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16
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Crooks D, Anderson NE, Widdows M, Petseva N, Koenigs M, Pluto C, Kiehl KA. The relationship between cavum septum pellucidum and psychopathic traits in a large forensic sample. Neuropsychologia 2018; 112:95-104. [PMID: 29545126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is a neuroanatomical variant of the septum pellucidum that is considered a marker for disrupted brain development. Several small sample studies have reported CSP to be related to disruptive behavior, persistent antisocial traits, and even psychopathy. However, no large-scale samples have comprehensively examined the relationship between CSP, psychopathic traits, and antisocial behavior in forensic samples. Here we test hypotheses about the presence of CSP and its relationship to psychopathic traits in incarcerated males (N = 1432). We also examined the incidence of CSP in two non-incarcerated male control samples for comparison (N = 208 and 125). Ethnic and racial composition was varied with a mean age of 33.1, and an average IQ of 96.96. CSP was evaluated via structural magnetic resonance imaging. CSP was measured by length (number of 1.0 mm slices) in continuous analyses, and classified as absent (0) or present (1+ mm), as well as by size (absent (0), small (1-3), medium (4-5), or large (6+ mm)) for comparison with prior work. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I/P), and Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) were used to assess IQ, substance dependence, and psychopathy, respectively. CSP length was positively associated with PCL-R total, Factor 1 (interpersonal/affective) and Facets 1 (interpersonal) and 2 (affective). CSP was no more prevalent among inmates than among non-incarcerated controls, with similar distributions of size. These results support the hypotheses that abnormal septal/limbic development may contribute to dimensional affective/interpersonal traits of psychopathy, but CSP is not closely associated with antisocial behavior, per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Crooks
- University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Nathaniel E Anderson
- The Mind Research Network (MRN) and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI), Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Matthew Widdows
- The Mind Research Network (MRN) and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI), Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nia Petseva
- University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Michael Koenigs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Charles Pluto
- The Mind Research Network (MRN) and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI), Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kent A Kiehl
- University of New Mexico, Department of Psychology, Albuquerque, NM, United States; The Mind Research Network (MRN) and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute (LBERI), Albuquerque, NM, United States
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17
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Hendrickson TJ, Mueller BA, Sowell ER, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Jones KL, Boys CJ, Lee S, Lim KO, Riley EP, Wozniak JR. Two-year cortical trajectories are abnormal in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2018; 30:123-133. [PMID: 29486453 PMCID: PMC5949095 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cortical abnormalities in prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are known, including in gyrification (LGI), thickness (CT), volume (CV), and surface area (CS). This study provides longitudinal and developmental context to the PAE cortical development literature. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Included: 58 children with PAE and 52 controls, ages 6-17 at enrollment, from four Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD) sites. Participants underwent a formal evaluation of physical anomalies and dysmorphic facial features associated with PAE. MRI data were collected on three platforms (Siemens, GE, and Philips) at four sites. Scans were spaced two years apart. Change in LGI, CT, CS, and CV were examined. PRINCIPAL OBSERVATIONS Several significant regional age-by-diagnosis linear and quadratic interaction effects in LGI, CT, and CV were found, indicating atypical developmental trajectories in PAE. No significant correlations were observed between cortical measures and IQ. CONCLUSIONS Regional differences were seen longitudinally in CT, CV, and LGI in those with PAE. The findings represent important insights into developmental trajectories and may have implications for the timing of assessments and interventions in this population. It is noteworthy that cortical metrics did not correlate with IQ, suggesting that more specific aspects of cognitive development may need to be explored to provide further context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, USA; University of Southern California, USA
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18
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Neuronal Loss in the Developing Cerebral Cortex of Normal and Bax-Deficient Mice: Effects of Ethanol Exposure. Neuroscience 2018; 369:278-291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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19
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Liu M, Xu P, Guan Z, Qian X, Dockery P, Fitzgerald U, O'Brien T, Shen S. Ulk4 deficiency leads to hypomyelination in mice. Glia 2017; 66:175-190. [PMID: 29034508 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain nerve fibers are insulated by myelin which is produced by oligodendrocytes. Defects in myelination are increasingly recognized as a common pathology underlying neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, which are associated with deletions of the Unc-51-like kinase 4 (ULK4) gene. Key transcription factors have been identified for oligodendrogenesis, but little is known about their associated regulators. Here we report that Ulk4 acts as a key regulator of myelination. Myelination is reduced by half in the Ulk4tm1a/tm1a hypomorph brain, whereas expression of axonal marker genes Tubb3, Nefh, Nefl and Nefm remains unaltered. Transcriptome analyses reveal that 8 (Gfap, Mbp, Mobp, Plp1, Slc1a2, Ttr, Cnp, Scd2) of the 10 most significantly altered genes in the Ulk4tm1a/tm1a brain are myelination-related. Ulk4 is co-expressed in Olig2+ (pan-oligodendrocyte marker) and CC1+ (mature myelinated oligodendrocyte marker) cells during postnatal development. Major oligodendrogeneic transcription factors, including Olig2, Olig1, Myrf, Sox10, Sox8, Sox6, Sox17, Nkx2-2, Nkx6-2 and Carhsp1, are significantly downregulated in the mutants. mRNA transcripts enriched in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the newly formed oligodendrocytes (NFOs) and myelinating oligodendrocytes (MOs), are significantly attenuated. Expression of stage-specific oligodendrocyte factors including Cspg4, Sox17, Nfasc, Enpp6, Sirt2, Cnp, Plp1, Mbp, Ugt8, Mag and Mog are markedly decreased. Indirect effects of axon caliber and neuroinflammation may also contribute to the hypomyelination, as Ulk4 mutants display smaller axons and increased neuroinflammation. This is the first evidence demonstrating that ULK4 is a crucial regulator of myelination, and ULK4 may therefore become a novel therapeutic target for hypomyelination diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Protein Drugs, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zhenlong Guan
- Department of Physiology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaohong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Engineering Research Center for Protein Drugs, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Peter Dockery
- Anatomy, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Una Fitzgerald
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sanbing Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, Galway, Ireland
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20
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Fernandes Y, Buckley DM, Eberhart JK. Diving into the world of alcohol teratogenesis: a review of zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Biochem Cell Biol 2017; 96:88-97. [PMID: 28817785 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to the entire suite of deleterious outcomes resulting from embryonic exposure to alcohol. Along with other reviews in this special issue, we provide insight into how animal models, specifically the zebrafish, have informed our understanding of FASD. We first provide a brief introduction to FASD. We discuss the zebrafish as a model organism and its strengths for alcohol research. We detail how zebrafish has been used to model some of the major defects present in FASD. These include behavioral defects, such as social behavior as well as learning and memory, and structural defects, disrupting organs such as the brain, sensory organs, heart, and craniofacial skeleton. We provide insights into how zebrafish research has aided in our understanding of the mechanisms of ethanol teratogenesis. We end by providing some relatively recent advances that zebrafish has provided in characterizing gene-ethanol interactions that may underlie FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohaan Fernandes
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA.,Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
| | - Desire M Buckley
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA.,Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
| | - Johann K Eberhart
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA.,Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
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21
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Miller MW. Effect of prenatal exposure to ethanol on the pyramidal tract in developing rats. Brain Res 2017; 1672:122-128. [PMID: 28779978 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to ethanol induces a relative increase in the numbers of pyramidal tract axons relative to the number of corticospinal projection neurons in somatosensory/motor cortices in the adult rat. The present study examines the effects of ethanol on the numbers of axons in the developing caudal pyramidal tract, i.e., corticospinal axons. Electron microscopic analyses of the pyramidal tracts of the offspring of pregnant rat dams fed a control diet ad libitum, pair-fed a liquid control diet, or fed an ethanol-containing diet ad libitum were performed. The pups were 5-, 15-, 30- and 90-days-old. The numbers of axons in control rats fell precipitously after postnatal day (P) 15 and the frequency of myelinated axons rose dramatically between P15 and P90. Ethanol exposure had no significant effect on the numbers of pyramidal tract axons at any age. Moreover, no ethanol-induced differences in the numbers of axons in different stages of myelination, i.e., axons that were "free" of glial associations, glia-engulfed, invested by 1-2 layers of myelin, or myelinated by 3+ layers of myelin, were detected on P15. Thus, it appears that (a) pyramidal tract axons are lost or pruned during the first two postnatal weeks and (b) postnatal development of pyramidal tract axons (e.g., pruning and myelination) is not affected by ethanol. The implications are that the ethanol-induced increase in the number of axons relative to the number of somata of corticospinal neurons detected in pups and adults results from the effects of ethanol on early stages (initiation) of axogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Miller
- Department of Anatomy, School of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 42242, USA; Department of Anatomy, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY 10940, USA.
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22
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Ren Z, Wang X, Yang F, Xu M, Frank JA, Wang H, Wang S, Ke ZJ, Luo J. Ethanol-induced damage to the developing spinal cord: The involvement of CCR2 signaling. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:2746-2761. [PMID: 28778590 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure during development causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). A large body of evidence shows that ethanol produces multiple abnormalities in the developing central nervous system (CNS), such as smaller brain size, reduced volume of cerebral white matter, permanent loss of neurons, and alterations in synaptogenesis and myelinogenesis. The effects of ethanol on the developing spinal cord, however, receive little attention and remain unclear. We used a third trimester equivalent mouse model to investigate the effect of ethanol on the developing spinal cord. Ethanol caused apoptosis and neurodegeneration in the dorsal horn neurons of mice of early postnatal days, which was accompanied by glial activation, macrophage infiltration, and increased expression of CCR2, a receptor for monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). Ethanol-induced neuronal death during development resulted in permanent loss of spinal cord neurons in adult mice. Ethanol stimulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress, and activated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. Knocking out MCP-1 or CCR2 made mice resistant to ethanol-induced apoptosis, ER stress, glial activation, and activation of GSK3β and JNK. CCR2 knock out offered much better protection against ethanol-induced damage to the spinal cord. Thus, developmental ethanol exposure caused permanent loss of spinal cord neurons and CCR2 signaling played an important role in ethanol neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Ren
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Fanmuyi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Mei Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Jacqueline A Frank
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Haiping Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Siying Wang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Zun-Ji Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jia Luo
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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23
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Hong SJ, Lim KJ, Yoon DY, Choi CS, Yun EJ, Seo YL, Cho YK, Yoon SJ, Moon JY, Baek S, Lim YJ, Lee K. The most-cited articles in pediatric imaging: a bibliometric analysis. Minerva Pediatr 2017; 71:461-469. [PMID: 28752735 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4946.17.05045-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The number of citations that an article has received reflects its impact on the scientific community. The purpose of our study was to identify and characterize the 51 most-cited articles in pediatric imaging. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Based on the database of Journal Citation Reports, we selected 350 journals that were considered as potential outlets for pediatric imaging articles. The Web of Science search tools were used to identify the most-cited articles relevant to pediatric imaging within the selected journals. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The 51 most-cited articles in pediatric imaging were published between 1952 and 2011, with 1980-1989 and 2000-2009 producing 15 articles, each. The number of citations ranged from 576-124 and the number of annual citations ranged from 49.05-2.56. The majority of articles were published in pediatric and related journals (N.=26), originated in the USA (N.=23), were original articles (N.=45), used MRI as imaging modality (N.=27), and were concerned with the subspecialty of brain (N.=34). University College London School of Medicine (N.=6) and School of Medicine University of California (N.=4) were the leading institutions and Reynolds EO (N.=7) was the most voluminous author. CONCLUSIONS Our study presents a detailed list and an analysis of the most-cited articles in the field of pediatric imaging, which provides an insight into historical developments and allows for recognition of the important advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su J Hong
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Gywonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Kyoung J Lim
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea -
| | - Dae Y Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chul S Choi
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun J Yun
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young L Seo
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young K Cho
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soo J Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Y Moon
- Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sora Baek
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun-Jung Lim
- Department of Radiology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Kwanseop Lee
- Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
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24
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Nguyen VT, Chong S, Tieng QM, Mardon K, Galloway GJ, Kurniawan ND. Radiological studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in humans and animal models: An updated comprehensive review. Magn Reson Imaging 2017. [PMID: 28645698 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders encompass a wide range of birth defects in children born to mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Typical mental impairments in FASD include difficulties in life adaptation and learning and memory, deficits in attention, visuospatial skills, language and speech disabilities, mood disorders and motor disabilities. Multimodal imaging methods have enabled in vivo studies of the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the central nervous system, giving more insight into the FASD phenotype. This paper offers an up-to-date comprehensive review of radiological findings in the central nervous system in studies of prenatal alcohol exposure in both humans and translational animal models, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography, Single Photon Emission Tomography and Ultrasonography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Nguyen
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Suyinn Chong
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Quang M Tieng
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karine Mardon
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham J Galloway
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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Hendrickson TJ, Mueller BA, Sowell ER, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Jones KL, Boys CJ, Lim KO, Riley EP, Wozniak JR. Cortical gyrification is abnormal in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Neuroimage Clin 2017; 15:391-400. [PMID: 28580296 PMCID: PMC5447653 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) adversely affects early brain development. Previous studies have shown a wide range of structural and functional abnormalities in children and adolescents with PAE. The current study adds to the existing literature specifically on cortical development by examining cortical gyrification in a large sample of children with PAE compared to controls. Relationships between cortical development and intellectual functioning are also examined. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Included were 92 children with PAE and 83 controls ages 9-16 from four sites in the Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD). All PAE participants had documented heavy PAE. All underwent a formal evaluation of physical anomalies and dysmorphic facial features. MRI data were collected using modified matched protocols on three platforms (Siemens, GE, and Philips). Cortical gyrification was examined using a semi-automated procedure. PRINCIPAL OBSERVATIONS Whole brain group comparisons using Monte Carlo z-simulation for multiple comparisons showed significantly lower cortical gyrification across a large proportion of the cerebral cortex amongst PAE compared to controls. Whole brain comparisons and ROI based analyses showed strong positive correlations between cortical gyrification and IQ (i.e. less developed cortex was associated with lower IQ). CONCLUSIONS Abnormalities in cortical development were seen across the brain in children with PAE compared to controls. Cortical gyrification and IQ were strongly correlated, suggesting that examining mechanisms by which alcohol disrupts cortical formation may yield clinically relevant insights and potential directions for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kelvin O Lim
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, United States
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26
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Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Molteno CD, Warton CMR, Wintermark P, Hoyme HE, De Jong G, Taylor P, Warton F, Lindinger NM, Carter RC, Dodge NC, Grant E, Warfield SK, Zöllei L, van der Kouwe AJW, Meintjes EM. Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure is Related to Smaller Corpus Callosum in Newborn MRI Scans. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:965-975. [PMID: 28247416 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have consistently demonstrated disproportionately smaller corpus callosa in individuals with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) but have not previously examined the feasibility of detecting this effect in infants. Tissue segmentation of the newborn brain is challenging because analysis techniques developed for the adult brain are not directly transferable, and segmentation for cerebral morphometry is difficult in neonates, due to the latter's incomplete myelination. This study is the first to use volumetric structural MRI to investigate PAE effects in newborns using manual tracing and to examine the cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum (CC). METHODS Forty-three nonsedated infants born to 32 Cape Coloured heavy drinkers and 11 controls recruited prospectively during pregnancy were scanned using a custom-designed birdcage coil for infants, which increases signal-to-noise ratio almost 2-fold compared to the standard head coil. Alcohol use was ascertained prospectively during pregnancy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders diagnosis was conducted by expert dysmorphologists. Data were acquired using a multi-echo FLASH protocol adapted for newborns, and a knowledge-based procedure was used to hand-segment the neonatal brains. RESULTS CC was disproportionately smaller in alcohol-exposed neonates than controls after controlling for intracranial volume. By contrast, CC area was unrelated to infant sex, gestational age, age at scan, or maternal smoking, marijuana, or methamphetamine use during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Given that midline craniofacial anomalies have been recognized as a hallmark of fetal alcohol syndrome in humans and animal models since this syndrome was first identified, the CC deficit identified here in newborns may support early identification of a range of midline structural impairments. Smaller CC during the newborn period may provide an early indicator of fetal alcohol-related cognitive deficits that have been linked to this critically important brain structure in childhood and adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences , Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences , Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christopher M R Warton
- Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - H Eugene Hoyme
- Department of Pediatrics , Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.,College of Medicine , University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Greetje De Jong
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics , Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Paul Taylor
- Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Scientific and Statistical Computing Core , National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fleur Warton
- Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nadine M Lindinger
- Department of Psychology , University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R Colin Carter
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine , Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Neil C Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences , Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Ellen Grant
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine , Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Simon K Warfield
- Department of Pediatrics , Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lilla Zöllei
- Department of Radiology , Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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27
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Sirnes E, Elgen IB, Chong WK, Griffiths ST, Aukland SM. Cerebral Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children With Prenatal Drug Exposure. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2017; 56:326-332. [PMID: 27356632 DOI: 10.1177/0009922816657154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of children with prenatal drug exposure in a clinical context. A hospital-based cohort of 10- to 14-year-old children, prenatally exposed to alcohol, opioids, and polysubstances, and a group of sex- and age-matched controls were examined with cerebral MRI. Scans obtained from 34 exposed children and 40 controls were scored based on the presence and degree of pathology by an experienced pediatric neuroradiologist blinded to the participants' background. Overall visual detectable MRI pathology was found in 35% of the exposed children and 33% of the controls (odds ratio = 1.08; 95% confidence interval = 0.36-3.25). No specific imaging pattern following prenatal drug exposure was seen by the means of simple visual analysis of cerebral MRI scans. Although cerebral MRI is feasible, it is probably of limited value in the clinical assessment of children with prenatal drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eivind Sirnes
- 1 Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,2 University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Irene B Elgen
- 1 Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,2 University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - W K Chong
- 3 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | | | - Stein Magnus Aukland
- 1 Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,2 University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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28
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Paolozza A, Treit S, Beaulieu C, Reynolds JN. Diffusion tensor imaging of white matter and correlates to eye movement control and psychometric testing in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:444-456. [PMID: 27622670 PMCID: PMC6866967 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can cause central nervous system dysfunction and widespread structural anomalies as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study focused on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of white matter in a large sample of PAE participants that allowed us to examine correlations with behavioral outcomes. Participants were confirmed PAE (n = 69, mean age = 12.5 ± 3.2 years) or typically developing control children (n = 67, mean age = 12.1 ± 3.2 years) who underwent brain MRI, eye movement tasks, and psychometric tests. A semi-automated tractography method extracted fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values from 15 white matter tracts. The PAE group displayed decreased FA compared with controls in multiple tracts including 3 corpus callosum regions, right corticospinal tract, and 3 left hemisphere tracts connecting to the frontal lobe (cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus). Significant group by sex interactions were found for the genu, left superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the left uncinate, with females in the PAE group exhibiting lower FA compared with control females. Correlations were found between DTI and eye movement measures in the control group, but these same relationships were absent in the PAE group. In contrast, no correlations were found between DTI and any of the psychometric tests used in this study. These findings support the hypothesis that measures of eye movement control may be valuable functional biomarkers of the brain injury induced by PAE as these tasks reveal group differences that appear to be linked to deficits in white matter integrity in the brain. Hum Brain Mapp 38:444-456, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Paolozza
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's UniversityKingstonOntarioK7L 3N6Canada
| | - Sarah Treit
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaT6G 2V2Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaT6G 2V2Canada
| | - James N. Reynolds
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's UniversityKingstonOntarioK7L 3N6Canada
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29
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Goodlett CR, Horn KH, Zhou FC. Alcohol Teratogenesis: Mechanisms of Damage and Strategies for Intervention. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 230:394-406. [PMID: 15956769 DOI: 10.1177/15353702-0323006-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There are multiple mechanisms by which alcohol can damage the developing brain, but the type of damage induced will depend on the amount and developmental timing of exposure, along with other maternal and genetic factors. This article reviews current perspectives on how ethanol can produce neuroteratogenic effects by its interactions with molecular regulators of brain development. The current evidence suggests that alcohol produces many of its damaging effects by exerting specific actions on molecules that regulate key developmental processes (e.g., L1 cell adhesion molecule, alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase), interfering with the early development of midline serotonergic neurons and disrupting their regulatory-signaling function for other target brain structures, interfering with trophic factors that regulate neurogenesis and cell survival, or inducing excessive cell death via oxidative stress or activation of caspase-3 proteases. The current understanding of pathogenesis mechanisms suggests several strategic approaches to develop rational molecular prevention. However, the development of behavioral and biologic treatments for alcohol-affected children is crucial because it is unlikely that effective delivery of preventative interventions can realistically be achieved in ways to prevent prenatal damage in at-risk pregnancies. Toward that end, behavioral training that promotes experience-dependent neuroplasticity has been effective in a rat model of cerebellar damage induced by alcohol exposure during the period of brain development that is comparable to that of the human third trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Goodlett
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
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30
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Kalyvas AV, Kalamatianos T, Pantazi M, Lianos GD, Stranjalis G, Alexiou GA. Maternal environmental risk factors for congenital hydrocephalus: a systematic review. Neurosurg Focus 2016; 41:E3. [DOI: 10.3171/2016.8.focus16280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is one of the most frequent CNS congenital malformations, representing an entity with serious pathological consequences. Although several studies have previously assessed child-related risk factors associated with CH development, there is a gap of knowledge on maternal environmental risk factors related to CH. The authors have systematically assessed extrinsic factors in the maternal environment that potentially confer an increased risk of CH development.
METHODS
The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were systematically searched for works published between 1966 and December 2015 to identify all relevant articles published in English. Only studies that investigated environmental risk factors concerning the mother—either during gestation or pregestationally—were included.
RESULTS
In total, 13 studies (5 cohorts, 3 case series, 3 case-control studies, 1 meta-analysis, and 1 case report) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Maternal medication or alcohol use during gestation; lifestyle modifiable maternal pathologies such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension; lack of prenatal care; and a low socioeconomic status were identified as significant maternal environmental risk factors for CH development. Maternal infections and trauma to the mother during pregnancy have also been highlighted as potential mother-related risk factors for CH.
CONCLUSIONS
Congenital hydrocephalus is an important cause of serious infant health disability that can lead to health inequalities among adults. The present study identified several maternal environmental risk factors for CH, thus yielding important scientific information relevant to prevention of some CH cases. However, further research is warranted to confirm the impact of the identified factors and examine their underlying behavioral and/or biological basis, leading to the generation of suitable prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mantha Pantazi
- 2Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Ioannina “G. Hatzikosta”; and
| | | | - George Stranjalis
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Evangelismos Hospital, University of Athens
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31
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Boronat S, Vicente M, Lainez E, Sánchez-Montañez A, Vázquez E, Mangado L, Martínez-Ribot L, Del Campo M. Seizures and electroencephalography findings in 61 patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Eur J Med Genet 2016; 60:72-78. [PMID: 27638326 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2016.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities. However, publications about epilepsy and electroencephalographic features are scarce. In this study, we prospectively performed electroencephalography (EEG) and brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 61 patients with diagnosis of FASD. One patient had multiple febrile seizures with normal EEGs. Fourteen children showed EEG anomalies, including slow background activity and interictal epileptiform discharges, focal and/or generalized, and 3 of them had epilepsy. In one patient, seizures were first detected during the EEG recording and one case had an encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus during slow sleep (ESES). Focal interictal discharges in our patients did not imply the presence of underlying visible focal brain lesions in the neuroimaging studies, such as cortical dysplasia or polymicrogyria. However, they had nonspecific brain MR abnormalities, including corpus callosum hypoplasia, vermis hypoplasia or cavum septum pellucidum. The latter was significantly more frequent in the group with EEG abnormal findings (p < 0.01).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Boronat
- Pediatric Neurology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Vicente
- Neurophysiology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Lainez
- Neurophysiology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - E Vázquez
- Pediatric Neuroradiology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Mangado
- Neuropsychology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Martínez-Ribot
- Clinical Genetics, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Del Campo
- Division of Dysmorphology and Teratology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA; Clinical Genetics, Vall d'Hebron Hospital, UAB, Barcelona, Spain
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32
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Correlation between morphological MRI findings and specific diagnostic categories in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Eur J Med Genet 2016; 60:65-71. [PMID: 27620364 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) include physical and neurodevelopmental abnormalities related to prenatal alcohol exposure. Some neuroimaging findings have been clearly related to FASD, including corpus callosum and cerebellar anomalies. However, detailed studies correlating with specific FASD categories, that is, the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (pFAS) and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders (ARND), are lacking. We prospectively performed clinical assessment and brain MR imaging to 72 patients with suspected FASD, and diagnosis was confirmed in 62. The most frequent findings were hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and/or of the cerebellar vermis. Additional findings were vascular anomalies, gliosis, prominent perivascular spaces, occipito-cervical junction and cervical vertebral anomalies, pituitary hypoplasia, arachnoid cysts, and cavum septum pellucidum.
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Van Der Leeden M, Van Dongen K, Kleinhout M, Phaff J, De Groot CJ, De Groot L, Hesselng PB. Infants exposed to alcohol prenatally: outcome at 3 and 7 months of age. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/02724930125346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Popova S, Lange S, Shield K, Mihic A, Chudley AE, Mukherjee RAS, Bekmuradov D, Rehm J. Comorbidity of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2016; 387:978-987. [PMID: 26777270 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(15)01345-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is related to many comorbidities because of the permanent effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the fetus. We aimed to identify the comorbid conditions that co-occur in individuals with FASD and estimate the pooled prevalence of comorbid conditions occurring in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). METHODS We did a systematic literature search of studies reporting on the comorbidity and cause of death in individuals with FASD using multiple electronic bibliographic databases, searching for studies published up to July, 2012. We included original research published in a peer-reviewed journal in the English language. We used the following criteria for determining study quality: use of an established FASD diagnostic guideline, study setting, method of data collection, and sample size. All comorbid disease conditions were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision (ICD-10). To estimate the pooled prevalence of comorbid conditions found to co-occur in individuals with FAS, we did meta-analyses assuming a random-effects model. FINDINGS Of 5068 studies found, 127 met eligibility criteria for data extraction. From those studies, we identified 428 comorbid conditions co-occurring in individuals with FASD, spanning across 18 of 22 chapters of the ICD-10. The most prevalent disease conditions were within the sections of congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities, and mental and behavioural disorders. 33 studies reported data for frequency in a total of 1728 participants with FAS. The five comorbid conditions with the highest pooled prevalence (between 50% and 91%) included abnormal results of function studies of peripheral nervous system and special senses, conduct disorder, receptive language disorder, chronic serous otitis media, and expressive language disorder. INTERPRETATION The high prevalence of comorbid conditions in individuals with FASD highlights the importance of assessing prenatal alcohol exposure as a substantial clinical risk factor for comorbidity. The harmful effects of alcohol on a developing fetus represent many cases of preventable disability, and thus, alcohol use during pregnancy should be recognised as a public health problem globally. FUNDING Public Health Agency of Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Popova
- Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Shannon Lange
- Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin Shield
- Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alanna Mihic
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Albert E Chudley
- Program in Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital, Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health and Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Raja A S Mukherjee
- FASD Specialist Behaviour Clinic, Surrey and Border's Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Oxted, UK
| | - Dennis Bekmuradov
- School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Epidemiological Research Unit, Klinische Psychologie and Psychotherapie, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Levman J, Takahashi E. Pre-Adult MRI of Brain Cancer and Neurological Injury: Multivariate Analyses. Front Pediatr 2016; 4:65. [PMID: 27446888 PMCID: PMC4917540 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2016.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cancer and neurological injuries, such as stroke, are life-threatening conditions for which further research is needed to overcome the many challenges associated with providing optimal patient care. Multivariate analysis (MVA) is a class of pattern recognition technique involving the processing of data that contains multiple measurements per sample. MVA can be used to address a wide variety of neuroimaging challenges, including identifying variables associated with patient outcomes; understanding an injury's etiology, development, and progression; creating diagnostic tests; assisting in treatment monitoring; and more. Compared to adults, imaging of the developing brain has attracted less attention from MVA researchers, however, remarkable MVA growth has occurred in recent years. This paper presents the results of a systematic review of the literature focusing on MVA technologies applied to brain injury and cancer in neurological fetal, neonatal, and pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With a wide variety of MRI modalities providing physiologically meaningful biomarkers and new biomarker measurements constantly under development, MVA techniques hold enormous potential toward combining available measurements toward improving basic research and the creation of technologies that contribute to improving patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Levman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Neuroimaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing human brain: a magnetic resonance imaging review. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2015; 27:251-69. [PMID: 25780875 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2015.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper reviews the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) literature on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing human brain. METHOD A literature search was conducted through the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar. Combinations of the following search terms and keywords were used to identify relevant studies: 'alcohol', 'fetal alcohol spectrum disorders', 'fetal alcohol syndrome', 'FAS', 'FASD', 'MRI', 'DTI', 'MRS', 'neuroimaging', 'children' and 'infants'. RESULTS A total of 64 relevant articles were identified across all modalities. Overall, studies reported smaller total brain volume as well as smaller volume of both the white and grey matter in specific cortical regions. The most consistently reported structural MRI findings were alterations in the shape and volume of the corpus callosum, as well as smaller volume in the basal ganglia and hippocampi. The most consistent finding from diffusion tensor imaging studies was lower fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies are few to date, but showed altered neurometabolic profiles in the frontal and parietal cortex, thalamus and dentate nuclei. Resting-state functional MRI studies reported reduced functional connectivity between cortical and deep grey matter structures. Discussion There is a critical gap in the literature of MRI studies in alcohol-exposed children under 5 years of age across all MRI modalities. The dynamic nature of brain maturation and appreciation of the effects of alcohol exposure on the developing trajectory of the structural and functional network argue for the prioritisation of studies that include a longitudinal approach to understanding this spectrum of effects and potential therapeutic time points.
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Robertson FC, Narr KL, Molteno CD, Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW, Meintjes EM. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure is Associated with Regionally Thinner Cortex During the Preadolescent Period. Cereb Cortex 2015; 26:3083-95. [PMID: 26088967 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) may exhibit craniofacial dysmorphology, neurobehavioral deficits, and reduced brain volume. Studies of cortical thickness in FASD have yielded contradictory findings, with 3 reporting thicker cerebral cortex in frontal and temporal brain regions and 2 showing thinner cortex across multiple regions. All 5 studies included subjects spanning a broad age range, and none have examined continuous measures of prenatal alcohol exposure. We investigated the relation of extent of in utero alcohol exposure to cortical thickness in 78 preadolescent children with FASD and controls within a narrow age range. A whole-brain analysis using FreeSurfer revealed no significant clusters where cortical thickness differed by FASD diagnostic group. However, alcohol dose/occasion during pregnancy was inversely related to cortical thickness in 3 regions-right cuneus/pericalcarine/superior parietal lobe, fusiform/lingual gyrus, and supramarginal/postcentral gyrus. The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on IQ was mediated by cortical thickness in the right occipitotemporal region. It is noteworthy that a continuous measure of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy was more sensitive than FASD diagnosis and that the effect on cortical thickness was most evident in relation to a measure of maternal binge drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances C Robertson
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences
| | - Katherine L Narr
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences
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Marjonen H, Sierra A, Nyman A, Rogojin V, Gröhn O, Linden AM, Hautaniemi S, Kaminen-Ahola N. Early maternal alcohol consumption alters hippocampal DNA methylation, gene expression and volume in a mouse model. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124931. [PMID: 25970770 PMCID: PMC4430308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are known, but the molecular events that lead to the phenotypic characteristics are unclear. To unravel the molecular mechanisms, we have used a mouse model of gestational ethanol exposure, which is based on maternal ad libitum ingestion of 10% (v/v) ethanol for the first 8 days of gestation (GD 0.5-8.5). Early neurulation takes place by the end of this period, which is equivalent to the developmental stage early in the fourth week post-fertilization in human. During this exposure period, dynamic epigenetic reprogramming takes place and the embryo is vulnerable to the effects of environmental factors. Thus, we hypothesize that early ethanol exposure disrupts the epigenetic reprogramming of the embryo, which leads to alterations in gene regulation and life-long changes in brain structure and function. Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in the mouse hippocampus revealed altered expression of 23 genes and three miRNAs in ethanol-exposed, adolescent offspring at postnatal day (P) 28. We confirmed this result by using two other tissues, where three candidate genes are known to express actively. Interestingly, we found a similar trend of upregulated gene expression in bone marrow and main olfactory epithelium. In addition, we observed altered DNA methylation in the CpG islands upstream of the candidate genes in the hippocampus. Our MRI study revealed asymmetry of brain structures in ethanol-exposed adult offspring (P60): we detected ethanol-induced enlargement of the left hippocampus and decreased volume of the left olfactory bulb. Our study indicates that ethanol exposure in early gestation can cause changes in DNA methylation, gene expression, and brain structure of offspring. Furthermore, the results support our hypothesis of early epigenetic origin of alcohol-induced disorders: changes in gene regulation may have already taken place in embryonic stem cells and therefore can be seen in different tissue types later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Marjonen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alejandra Sierra
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anna Nyman
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vladimir Rogojin
- Institute of Biomedicine & Genome-Scale Biology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Gröhn
- Department of Neurobiology, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anni-Maija Linden
- Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sampsa Hautaniemi
- Institute of Biomedicine & Genome-Scale Biology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina Kaminen-Ahola
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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Cao W, Li W, Han H, O'Leary-Moore SK, Sulik KK, Allan Johnson G, Liu C. Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces magnetic susceptibility contrast and anisotropy in the white matter of mouse brains. Neuroimage 2014; 102 Pt 2:748-55. [PMID: 25175539 PMCID: PMC4252734 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in long-term cognitive and behavioral deficits. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to a range of permanent birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, and is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in the US. Studies by autopsy and conventional structural MRI indicate that the midline structures of the brain are particularly vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has shown that abnormalities in brain white matter especially the corpus callosum are very common in FASD. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a novel technique that measures tissue's magnetic property. Such magnetic property is affected by tissue microstructure and molecular composition including that of myelin in the white matter. In this work, we studied three major white matter fiber bundles of a mouse model of FASD and compared it to control mice using both QSM and DTI. QSM revealed clear and significant abnormalities in anterior commissure, corpus callosum, and hippocampal commissure, which were likely due to reduced myelination. Our data also suggested that QSM may be even more sensitive than DTI for examining changes due to prenatal alcohol exposure. Although this is a preclinical study, the technique of QSM is readily translatable to human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Hui Han
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shonagh K O'Leary-Moore
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kathleen K Sulik
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - G Allan Johnson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chunlei Liu
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
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Moore EM, Migliorini R, Infante MA, Riley EP. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Recent Neuroimaging Findings. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2014; 1:161-172. [PMID: 25346882 DOI: 10.1007/s40474-014-0020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Since the identification of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome over 40 years ago, much has been learned about the detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain. This review highlights recent neuroimaging studies, within the context of previous work. Structural magnetic resonance imaging has described morphological differences in the brain and their relationships to cognitive deficits and measures of facial dysmorphology. Diffusion tensor imaging has elaborated on the relationship between white matter microstructure and behavior. Atypical neuromaturation across childhood and adolescence has been observed in longitudinal neuroimaging studies. Functional imaging has revealed differences in neural activation patterns underlying sensory processing, cognition and behavioral deficits. A recent functional connectivity analysis demonstrates reductions in global network efficiency. Despite this progress much remains unknown about the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain, and continued research efforts are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Robyn Migliorini
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - M Alejandra Infante
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120 ; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182
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Paolozza A, Treit S, Beaulieu C, Reynolds JN. Response inhibition deficits in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: relationship between diffusion tensor imaging of the corpus callosum and eye movement control. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2014; 5:53-61. [PMID: 24967159 PMCID: PMC4066187 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Response inhibition is the ability to suppress irrelevant impulses to enable goal-directed behavior. The underlying neural mechanisms of inhibition deficits are not clearly understood, but may be related to white matter connectivity, which can be assessed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between response inhibition during the performance of saccadic eye movement tasks and DTI measures of the corpus callosum in children with or without Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Participants included 43 children with an FASD diagnosis (12.3 ± 3.1 years old) and 35 typically developing children (12.5 ± 3.0 years old) both aged 7-18, assessed at three sites across Canada. Response inhibition was measured by direction errors in an antisaccade task and timing errors in a delayed memory-guided saccade task. Manual deterministic tractography was used to delineate six regions of the corpus callosum and calculate fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), parallel diffusivity, and perpendicular diffusivity. Group differences in saccade measures were assessed using t-tests, followed by partial correlations between eye movement inhibition scores and corpus callosum FA and MD, controlling for age. Children with FASD made more saccade direction errors and more timing errors, which indicates a deficit in response inhibition. The only group difference in DTI metrics was significantly higher MD of the splenium in FASD compared to controls. Notably, direction errors in the antisaccade task were correlated negatively to FA and positively to MD of the splenium in the control, but not the FASD group, which suggests that alterations in connectivity between the two hemispheres of the brain may contribute to inhibition deficits in children with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Paolozza
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Sarah Treit
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2E1, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2E1, Canada ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada ; Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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Glass L, Ware AL, Mattson SN. Neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:435-462. [PMID: 25307589 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00025-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have deleterious consequences for the fetus, including changes in central nervous system development leading to permanent neurologic alterations and cognitive and behavioral deficits. Individuals affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, including those with and without fetal alcohol syndrome, are identified under the umbrella of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). While studies of humans and animal models confirm that even low to moderate levels of exposure can have detrimental effects, critical doses of such exposure have yet to be specified and the most clinically significant and consistent consequences occur following heavy exposure. These consequences are pervasive, devastating, and can result in long-term dysfunction. This chapter summarizes the neurobehavioral, neurologic, and neuroimaging characteristics of FASD, focusing primarily on clinical research of individuals with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, although studies of lower levels of exposure, particularly prospective, longitudinal studies, will be discussed where relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Glass
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ashley L Ware
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Hwang J, Kim JE, Kaufman MJ, Renshaw PF, Yoon S, Yurgelun-Todd DA, Choi Y, Jun C, Lyoo IK. Enlarged cavum septum pellucidum as a neurodevelopmental marker in adolescent-onset opiate dependence. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78590. [PMID: 24205275 PMCID: PMC3813473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Adolescent-onset exposure to highly addictive substances such as opiates may induce far-reaching deleterious effects on later mental and physical health. However, little is known about the neurodevelopmental basis for adolescent-onset opiate dependence. Here we examined whether having an abnormally large cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), a putative marker of limbic structural maldevelopment, is associated with opiate dependence particularly beginning in adolescence. Method The overall length of the CSP and the prevalence of abnormal enlargement of the CSP were assessed and compared in 65 opiate-dependent subjects (41 adolescent-onset opiate users and 24 adult-onset opiate users) and 67 healthy subjects. Results Opiate-dependent subjects showed a greater prevalence of abnormal CSP enlargement relative to healthy subjects (odds ratio [OR]=3.64, p=0.034). The overall CSP length of adolescent-onset opiate-dependent subjects was greater, as compared not only with healthy subjects (F1,104=11.03, p=0.001) but also with those who began opiate use during adulthood (F1,61=4.43, p=0.039). Conclusions The current findings provide the first evidence that abnormal CSP enlargement, which reflects limbic system dysgenesis of neurodevelopmental origin, may be linked to later development of opiate dependence. In addition, a greater CSP length, which indicates more severe limbic abnormalities, appears to confer higher risk for earlier onset of opiate use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeuk Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jieun E. Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Woman's University Graduate School, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Marc J. Kaufman
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Perry F. Renshaw
- Department of Psychiatry and The Brain Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Sujung Yoon
- Department of Psychiatry and The Brain Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd
- Department of Psychiatry and The Brain Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Yera Choi
- Interdisciplinary Program in Brain Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chansoo Jun
- Ewha Brain Institute & College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In Kyoon Lyoo
- Ewha Brain Institute & College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Woman's University, Seoul, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Conduct disorder is a childhood behaviour disorder that is characterized by persistent aggressive or antisocial behaviour that disrupts the child's environment and impairs his or her functioning. A proportion of children with conduct disorder have psychopathic traits. Psychopathic traits consist of a callous-unemotional component and an impulsive-antisocial component, which are associated with two core impairments. The first is a reduced empathic response to the distress of other individuals, which primarily reflects reduced amygdala responsiveness to distress cues; the second is deficits in decision making and in reinforcement learning, which reflects dysfunction in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and striatum. Genetic and prenatal factors contribute to the abnormal development of these neural systems, and social-environmental variables that affect motivation influence the probability that antisocial behaviour will be subsequently displayed.
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McCarthy N, Wetherill L, Lovely CB, Swartz ME, Foroud TM, Eberhart JK. Pdgfra protects against ethanol-induced craniofacial defects in a zebrafish model of FASD. Development 2013; 140:3254-65. [PMID: 23861062 PMCID: PMC3931738 DOI: 10.1242/dev.094938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Human birth defects are highly variable and this phenotypic variability can be influenced by both the environment and genetics. However, the synergistic interactions between these two variables are not well understood. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is the umbrella term used to describe the wide range of deleterious outcomes following prenatal alcohol exposure. Although FASD are caused by prenatal ethanol exposure, FASD are thought to be genetically modulated, although the genes regulating sensitivity to ethanol teratogenesis are largely unknown. To identify potential ethanol-sensitive genes, we tested five known craniofacial mutants for ethanol sensitivity: cyp26b1, gata3, pdgfra, smad5 and smoothened. We found that only platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (pdgfra) interacted with ethanol during zebrafish craniofacial development. Analysis of the PDGF family in a human FASD genome-wide dataset links PDGFRA to craniofacial phenotypes in FASD, prompting a mechanistic understanding of this interaction. In zebrafish, untreated pdgfra mutants have cleft palate due to defective neural crest cell migration, whereas pdgfra heterozygotes develop normally. Ethanol-exposed pdgfra mutants have profound craniofacial defects that include the loss of the palatal skeleton and hypoplasia of the pharyngeal skeleton. Furthermore, ethanol treatment revealed latent haploinsufficiency, causing palatal defects in ∼62% of pdgfra heterozygotes. Neural crest apoptosis partially underlies these ethanol-induced defects in pdgfra mutants, demonstrating a protective role for Pdgfra. This protective role is mediated by the PI3K/mTOR pathway. Collectively, our results suggest a model where combined genetic and environmental inhibition of PI3K/mTOR signaling leads to variability within FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil McCarthy
- Department of Molecular and Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Grant TM, Brown NN, Dubovsky D, Sparrow J, Ries R. The impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on addiction treatment. J Addict Med 2013; 7:87-95. [PMID: 23552820 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0b013e31828b47a8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure in amounts sufficient to cause permanent deficits in brain functioning. Extent of damage largely depends on timing, dose, frequency, and pattern of exposure. Timing is especially important because prenatal alcohol exposure during critical periods of gestation can affect brain development in ways that produce varying patterns of neurocognitive deficits and associated adaptive impairments. This article describes some of the more serious neurophysiological and neuropsychological sequelae of prenatal alcohol exposure that contribute to increased risk for substance abuse problems among people with an FASD. We discuss the unique interface between pharmacological treatment and FASD, noting that failure to consider the possibility of FASD in treatment planning may result in treatment failure and/or relapse. Finally, we present a clinical case example and recommend service accommodations to address some of the impairments in FASD that limit substance abuse treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese M Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98109, USA.
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White SF, Brislin S, Sinclair S, Fowler KA, Pope K, Blair RJR. The relationship between large cavum septum pellucidum and antisocial behavior, callous-unemotional traits and psychopathy in adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2013; 54:575-81. [PMID: 22934662 PMCID: PMC3514613 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02603.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of a large cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) has been previously associated with antisocial behavior/psychopathic traits in an adult community sample. AIMS The current study investigated the relationship between a large CSP and symptom severity in disruptive behavior disorders (DBD; conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder). METHOD Structural MRI scans of youth with DBDs (N = 32) and healthy comparison youth (N = 27) were examined for the presence of a large CSP and if this was related to symptom severity. RESULTS Replicating previous results, a large CSP was associated with DBD diagnosis, proactive aggression, and level of psychopathic traits in youth. However, the presence of a large CSP was unrelated to aggression or psychopathic traits within the DBD sample. CONCLUSIONS Early brain mal-development may increase the risk of a DBD diagnosis, but does not mark a particularly severe form of DBD within patients receiving these diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart F White
- Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Balaszczuk V, Bender C, Pereno G, Beltramino CA. Binge alcohol‐induced alterations in BDNF and GDNF expression in central extended amygdala and pyriform cortex on infant rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2013; 31:287-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Revised: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Balaszczuk
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín FerreyraFriuli 24345016CórdobaArgentina
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva Humana, Facultad de PsicologíaUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba5000CórdobaArgentina
| | - Crhistian Bender
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín FerreyraFriuli 24345016CórdobaArgentina
| | - Germán Pereno
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva Humana, Facultad de PsicologíaUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba5000CórdobaArgentina
| | - Carlos A. Beltramino
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín FerreyraFriuli 24345016CórdobaArgentina
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Veazey KJ, Carnahan MN, Muller D, Miranda RC, Golding MC. Alcohol-induced epigenetic alterations to developmentally crucial genes regulating neural stemness and differentiation. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2013; 37:1111-22. [PMID: 23488822 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND From studies using a diverse range of model organisms, we now acknowledge that epigenetic changes to chromatin structure provide a plausible link between environmental teratogens and alterations in gene expression leading to disease. Observations from a number of independent laboratories indicate that ethanol (EtOH) has the capacity to act as a powerful epigenetic disruptor and potentially derail the coordinated processes of cellular differentiation. In this study, we sought to examine whether primary neurospheres cultured under conditions maintaining stemness were susceptible to alcohol-induced alterations in the histone code. We focused our studies on trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 and trimethylated histone 3 lysine 27, as these are 2 of the most prominent posttranslational histone modifications regulating stem cell maintenance and neural differentiation. METHODS Primary neurosphere cultures were maintained under conditions promoting the stem cell state and treated with EtOH for 5 days. Control and EtOH-treated cellular extracts were examined using a combination of quantitative RT-PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques. RESULTS We find that the regulatory regions of genes controlling both neural precursor cell identity and processes of differentiation exhibited significant declines in the enrichment of the chromatin marks examined. Despite these widespread changes in chromatin structure, only a small subset of genes including Dlx2, Fabp7, Nestin, Olig2, and Pax6 displayed EtOH-induced alterations in transcription. Unexpectedly, the majority of chromatin-modifying enzymes examined including members of the Polycomb Repressive Complex displayed minimal changes in expression and localization. Only transcripts encoding Dnmt1, Uhrf1, Ehmt1, Ash2 l, Wdr5, and Kdm1b exhibited significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that primary neurospheres maintained as stem cells in vitro are susceptible to alcohol-induced perturbation of the histone code and errors in the epigenetic program. These observations indicate that alterations to chromatin structure may represent a crucial component of alcohol teratogenesis and progress toward a better understanding of the developmental origins of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylee J Veazey
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA
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Sawant OB, Lunde ER, Washburn SE, Chen WJA, Goodlett CR, Cudd TA. Different patterns of regional Purkinje cell loss in the cerebellar vermis as a function of the timing of prenatal ethanol exposure in an ovine model. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012. [PMID: 23195754 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Studies in rat models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders have indicated that the cerebellum is particularly vulnerable to ethanol-induced Purkinje cell loss during the third trimester-equivalent, with striking regional differences in vulnerability in which early-maturing regions in the vermis show significantly more loss than the late-maturing regions. The current study tested the hypothesis that the sheep model will show similar regional differences in fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell loss when prenatal binge ethanol exposure is restricted to the prenatal period of brain development equivalent to the third trimester and also compared the pattern of loss to that produced by exposure during the first trimester-equivalent. Pregnant Suffolk sheep were assigned to four groups: first trimester-equivalent saline control group, first trimester-equivalent ethanol group (1.75 g/kg/day), third trimester-equivalent saline control group, and third trimester-equivalent ethanol group (1.75 g/kg/day). Ethanol was administered as an intravenous infusion on 3 consecutive days followed by a 4-day ethanol-free interval, to mimic a weekend binge drinking pattern. Animals from all four groups were sacrificed and fetal brains were harvested on gestation day 133. Fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell counts were performed in an early-maturing region (lobules I-X) and a late-maturing region (lobules VIc-VII) from mid-sagittal sections of the cerebellar vermis. As predicted, the third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure caused a significant reduction in the fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell volume density and Purkinje cell number in the early-maturing region, but not in the late-maturing region. In contrast, the first trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure resulted in significant reductions in both the early and late-maturing regions. These data confirmed that the previous findings in rat models that third trimester-equivalent prenatal ethanol exposure resulted in regionally-specific Purkinje cell loss in the early-maturing region of the vermis, and further demonstrated that first trimester ethanol exposure caused more generalized fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell loss, independent of the cerebellar vermal region. These findings support the idea that prenatal ethanol exposure in the first trimester interferes with the genesis of Purkinje cells in an unselective manner, whereas exposure during the third trimester selectively kills post-mitotic Purkinje cells in specific vermal regions during a vulnerable period of differentiation and synaptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onkar B Sawant
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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