1
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Titterness AK, Gräfe EL, Acosta C, Rodriguez C, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Developmental ethanol exposure produces deficits in long-term potentiation in vivo that persist following postnatal choline supplementation. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:1483-1491. [PMID: 38850072 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the leading causes of neurodevelopmental disorder for which there is a pressing need for an effective treatment. Recent studies have investigated the essential nutrient choline as a postnatal treatment option. Supplementation with choline has produced improvements in behavioral tasks related to learning and memory and reverted changes in methylation signature following third-trimester equivalent ethanol exposure. We examined whether there are related improvements in hippocampal synaptic plasticity in vivo. METHODS Sprague-Dawley offspring were administered binge-levels of ethanol from postnatal day (PND) 4 to 9, then treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) from PND 10 to 30. In vivo electrophysiology was performed on male and female offspring from PND 55 to 70. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced in the medial perforant pathway of the dentate gyrus using a theta-burst stimulation (TBS) protocol, and field-evoked postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were evoked for 60 min following the conditioning stimulus. RESULTS Developmental ethanol exposure caused long-lasting deficits in LTP of the slope of the evoked responses and in the amplitude of the population spike potentiation. Neither deficit was rescued by postnatal choline supplementation. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to our prior findings that choline can improve hippocampal plasticity (Nutrients, 2022, 14, 2004), here we found that deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity due to developmental ethanol exposure persisted into adulthood despite adolescent choline supplementation. Future research should examine more subtle changes in synaptic plasticity to identify synaptic changes that mirror behavioral improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Titterness
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - E L Gräfe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Acosta
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - J D Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - B R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Island Medical Program and Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Life-Long Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Dymek A, Oleksy Ł, Stolarczyk A, Bartosiewicz A. Choline-An Underappreciated Component of a Mother-to-Be's Diet. Nutrients 2024; 16:1767. [PMID: 38892700 PMCID: PMC11174651 DOI: 10.3390/nu16111767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The nutritional status of the mother-to-be has a key impact on the proper development of the fetus. Although all nutrients are important for the developing baby, recent research indicates the importance of adequate choline intake during the periconceptional period, pregnancy, and lactation. Choline plays a key role in the biosynthesis of cell membranes, supporting liver function, neurotransmission, brain development, and DNA and histone methylation. Choline participates in the formation of a child's nervous system, supports its cognitive development, and reduces the risk of neural tube defects. The human body is incapable of producing sufficient choline to meet its needs; therefore, it must be obtained from the diet. Current data indicate that most women in their reproductive years do not achieve the recommended daily intake of choline. The presented narrative review indicates the importance of educating mothers-to-be and thereby increasing their awareness of the effects of choline on maternal and child health, which can lead to a more aware and healthy pregnancy and proper child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Dymek
- Students Scientific Club of Dietetics, Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Oleksy
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Kraków, Poland
| | - Artur Stolarczyk
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Bartosiewicz
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
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3
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Kadam I, Trasino SE, Korsmo H, Lucas J, Pinkas M, Jiang X. Prenatal Choline Supplementation Improves Glucose Tolerance and Reduces Liver Fat Accumulation in Mouse Offspring Exposed to Ethanol during the Prenatal and Postnatal Periods. Nutrients 2024; 16:1264. [PMID: 38732511 PMCID: PMC11085373 DOI: 10.3390/nu16091264] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) affects cognitive development. However, it is unclear whether prenatal AE influences the metabolic health of offspring and whether postnatal AE exacerbates metabolic deterioration resulting from prenatal AE. Choline is a semi-essential nutrient that has been demonstrated to mitigate the cognitive impairment of prenatal AE. This study investigated how maternal choline supplementation (CS) may modify the metabolic health of offspring with prenatal and postnatal AE (AE/AE). C57BL/6J female mice were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli diet with 1.4% ethanol between embryonic day (E) 9.5 and E17.5 or a control diet. Choline was supplemented with 4 × concentrations versus the control throughout pregnancy. At postnatal week 7, offspring mice were exposed to 1.4% ethanol for females and 3.9% ethanol for males for 4 weeks. AE/AE increased hepatic triglyceride accumulation in male offspring only, which was normalized by prenatal CS. Prenatal CS also improved glucose tolerance compared to AE/AE animals. AE/AE suppressed hepatic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (Ppara) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr), which regulate fatty acid catabolism and cholesterol reuptake, respectively, in male offspring. However, these changes were not rectified by prenatal CS. In conclusion, AE/AE led to an increased risk of steatosis and was partially prevented by prenatal CS in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isma’il Kadam
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA; (I.K.); (H.K.)
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (J.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Steven E. Trasino
- Nutrition Program, School of Urban Public Health, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hunter Korsmo
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA; (I.K.); (H.K.)
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (J.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Jessica Lucas
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (J.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Myriam Pinkas
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (J.L.); (M.P.)
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA; (I.K.); (H.K.)
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (J.L.); (M.P.)
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4
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Socha MW, Flis W, Wartęga M. Epigenetic Genome Modifications during Pregnancy: The Impact of Essential Nutritional Supplements on DNA Methylation. Nutrients 2024; 16:678. [PMID: 38474806 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is an extremely stressful period in a pregnant woman's life. Currently, women's awareness of the proper course of pregnancy and its possible complications is constantly growing. Therefore, a significant percentage of women increasingly reach for various dietary supplements during gestation. Some of the most popular substances included in multi-ingredient supplements are folic acid and choline. Those substances are associated with positive effects on fetal intrauterine development and fewer possible pregnancy-associated complications. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the impacts of specific environmental factors, such as diet, stress, physical activity, etc., on epigenetic modifications, understood as changes occurring in gene expression without the direct alteration of DNA sequences. Substances such as folic acid and choline may participate in epigenetic modifications by acting via a one-carbon cycle, leading to the methyl-group donor formation. Those nutrients may indirectly impact genome phenotype by influencing the process of DNA methylation. This review article presents the current state of knowledge on the use of folic acid and choline supplementation during pregnancy, taking into account their impacts on the maternal-fetal unit and possible pregnancy outcomes, and determining possible mechanisms of action, with particular emphasis on their possible impacts on epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej W Socha
- Department of Perinatology, Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Łukasiewicza 1, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Adalbert's Hospital in Gdańsk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Wojciech Flis
- Department of Perinatology, Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Łukasiewicza 1, 85-821 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Adalbert's Hospital in Gdańsk, Copernicus Healthcare Entity, Jana Pawła II 50, 80-462 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Mateusz Wartęga
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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5
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Mahadevan J, Gautam M, Benegal V. Mental health and well-being for the prevention of substance use disorders. Indian J Psychiatry 2024; 66:S272-S282. [PMID: 38445279 PMCID: PMC10911324 DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_716_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jayant Mahadevan
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India E-mail:
| | - Manaswi Gautam
- Consultant Psychiatrist, Gautam Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vivek Benegal
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India E-mail:
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Smith SM, Weathers TD, Virdee MS, Schwantes-An TH, Voruganti VS, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Sowell E, Wozniak JR, Wetherill L. Polymorphisms in the choline transporter SLC44A1 are associated with reduced cognitive performance in normotypic but not prenatal alcohol-exposed children. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:117-126. [PMID: 38176775 PMCID: PMC10925855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choline is essential for healthy cognitive development. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs3199966(G), rs2771040(G)) within the choline transporter SLC44A1 increase risk for choline deficiency. In a choline intervention trial of children who experienced prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), these alleles are associated with improved cognition. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine if SNPs within SLC44A1 are differentially associated with cognition in children with PAE compared with normotypic controls (genotype × exposure). A secondary objective tested for an association of these SNPs and cognition in controls (genotype-only). DESIGN This is a secondary analysis of data from the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Participants (163 normotypic controls, 162 PAE) underwent psychological assessments and were genotyped within SLC44A1. Choline status was not assessed. Association analysis between genotype × exposure was performed using an additive genetic model and linear regression to identify the allelic effect. The primary outcome was the interaction between SLC44A1 genotype × exposure status with respect to cognition. The secondary outcome was the cognitive-genotype association in normotypic controls. RESULTS Genotype × exposure analysis identified 7 SNPs in SLC44A1, including rs3199966(G) and rs2771040(G), and in strong linkage (D' ≥ 0.87), that were associated (adjusted P ≤ 0.05) with reduced performance in measures of general cognition, nonverbal and quantitative reasoning, memory, and executive function (β, 1.92-3.91). In controls, carriers of rs3199966(GT or GG) had worsened cognitive performance than rs3199966(TT) carriers (β, 0.46-0.83; P < 0.0001), whereas cognitive performance did not differ by rs3199966 genotype in those with PAE. CONCLUSIONS Two functional alleles that increase vulnerability to choline deficiency, rs3199966(G) (Ser644Ala) and rs2771040(G) (3' untranslated region), are associated with worsened cognition in otherwise normotypic children. These alleles were previously associated with greater cognitive improvement in children with PAE who received supplemental choline. The findings endorse that choline benefits cognitive development in normotypic children and those with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States.
| | - Torri D Weathers
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Manjot S Virdee
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Venkata Saroja Voruganti
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Claire D Coles
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Julie A Kable
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Sowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Psychology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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7
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Villalba NM, Madarnas C, Bressano J, Sanchez V, Brusco A. Perinatal ethanol exposure affects cell populations in adult dorsal hippocampal neurogenic niche. Neurosci Res 2024; 198:8-20. [PMID: 37419388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopment is highly affected by perinatal ethanol exposure (PEE). In the adult brain, neurogenesis takes place in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and in the subventricular zone. This work aimed to analyze the effect of PEE on the cellular types involved in adult dorsal hippocampal neurogenesis phases using a murine model. For this purpose, primiparous female CD1 mice consumed only ethanol 6% v/v from 20 days prior to mating and along pregnancy and lactation to ensure that the pups were exposed to ethanol throughout pre- and early postnatal development. After weaning, pups had no further contact with ethanol. Cell types of the adult male dorsal DG were studied by immunofluorescence. A lower percentage of type 1 cells and immature neurons and a higher percentage of type 2 cells were observed in PEE animals. This decrease in type 1 cells suggests that PEE reduces the population of remnant progenitors of the dorsal DG present in adulthood. The increase in type 2 cells and the decrease in immature neurons indicate that, during neurodevelopment, ethanol alters the capacity of neuroblasts to become neurons in the adult neurogenic niche. These results suggest that pathways implicated in cell determination are affected by PEE and remain affected in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerina M Villalba
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catalina Madarnas
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Bressano
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana Sanchez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia Brusco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis (IBCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, 1° Unidad Académica del Departamento de Histología, Biología Celular, Embriología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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8
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Carter RC. The critical need for novel precision medicine methodologies in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:5-6. [PMID: 38176780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R Colin Carter
- Institute of Human Nutrition and Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States.
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9
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Lesinskienė S, Žilinskas E, Utkus A, Marčiukaitytė R, Vasiliauskaitė G, Stankevičiūtė R, Kinčinienė O. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Inadequacy of Care: Importance of Raising Awareness in Clinical Practice. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:5. [PMID: 38275426 PMCID: PMC10814035 DOI: 10.3390/children11010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the major avoidable causes of developmental disruption and health abnormalities in children. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), a significant consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure, have gained more attention recently. This review aims to provide a narrative approach to the scientific literature on the history, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of FASDs. A literature search in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar online databases was conducted. The dates of publications ranged from 2000 to 2023. FASD presentations tend to persist into adulthood, which, combined with environmental factors, potentially lead to secondary psychosocial problems and disabilities. This review covers different aspects of FASDs regarding the concept of the umbrella term and public health, somatic, and psychiatric perspectives. FASD management remains an obstacle to health professionals, and mental health problems are underestimated. Its management involves a multi-disciplinary team, which varies according to the patient's individual needs. FASD diagnosis and management have not been sufficiently established and tailored. Stigma, cultural contexts, knowledge gaps, and the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations are significant barriers to an accurate diagnostic process. Further development of early interventions and the elaboration of complex treatment approaches are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigita Lesinskienė
- Clinic of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Emilijus Žilinskas
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (E.Ž.); (R.M.); (G.V.); (R.S.)
| | - Algirdas Utkus
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Rūta Marčiukaitytė
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (E.Ž.); (R.M.); (G.V.); (R.S.)
| | - Gabrielė Vasiliauskaitė
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (E.Ž.); (R.M.); (G.V.); (R.S.)
| | - Rugilė Stankevičiūtė
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (E.Ž.); (R.M.); (G.V.); (R.S.)
| | - Odeta Kinčinienė
- Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
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10
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Akison LK, Donald KA, Haeger PA, Valenzuela CF, Yeh HH. Editorial: Perspectives and recent advances in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders research. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1341186. [PMID: 38161791 PMCID: PMC10757319 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1341186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K. Akison
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kirsten A. Donald
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Paola A. Haeger
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - C. Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Hermes H. Yeh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
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11
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Bariselli S, Mateo Y, Reuveni N, Lovinger DM. Gestational ethanol exposure impairs motor skills in female mice through dysregulated striatal dopamine and acetylcholine function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1808-1820. [PMID: 37188849 PMCID: PMC10579353 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01594-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol exposure has deleterious consequences on the motor skills of patients affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and in pre-clinical models of gestational ethanol exposure (GEE). Deficits in striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and dopamine function impair action learning and execution, yet the effects of GEE on acetylcholine (ACh) and striatal dopamine release remain unexplored. Here, we report that alcohol exposure during the first ten postnatal days (GEEP0-P10), which mimics ethanol consumption during the last gestational trimester in humans, induces sex-specific anatomical and motor skill deficits in female mice during adulthood. Consistent with these behavioral impairments, we observed increased stimulus evoked-dopamine levels in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) of GEEP0-P10 female, but not male, mice. Further experiments revealed sex-specific deficits in β2-containing nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR)-modulation of electrically evoked dopamine release. Moreover, we found a reduced decay of ACh transients and a decreased excitability of striatal CINs in DLS of GEEP0-P10 females, indicating striatal CIN dysfunctions. Finally, the administration of varenicline, a β2-containing nAChR partial agonist, and chemogenetic-mediated increase in CIN activity improved motor performance in adult GEEP0-P10 females. Altogether, these data shed new light on GEE-induced striatal deficits and establish potential pharmacological and circuit-specific interventions to ameliorate motor symptoms of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Bariselli
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience (LIN), NIH-NIAAA, 5625 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Yolanda Mateo
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience (LIN), NIH-NIAAA, 5625 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Noa Reuveni
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience (LIN), NIH-NIAAA, 5625 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - David M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience (LIN), NIH-NIAAA, 5625 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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12
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Xu F, Thomas JD, Goldowitz D, Hamre KM. The ameliorative effects of choline on ethanol-induced cell death in the neural tube of susceptible BXD strains of mice. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1203597. [PMID: 37790585 PMCID: PMC10543688 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1203597] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability, providing the impetus for evaluating various potential treatments to ameliorate ethanol's teratogenic effects, particularly in the nervous system. One treatment is the dietary supplement choline which has been shown to mitigate at least some of ethanol's teratogenic effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of genetics on choline's efficacy in ameliorating cell death in the developing neural tube. Previously, we examined BXD recombinant inbred mice, and their parental C57BL/6 J (B6) and DBA/2 J strains, and identified strains that were sensitive to ethanol's teratogenic actions. Thus, we used these strains to identify response to choline treatment. Materials and methods Timed pregnant mice from 4 strains (B6, BXD51, BXD73, BXD2) were given either ethanol or isocaloric maltose-dextrin (5.8 g/kg in two administrations separated by 2 h) with choline at one of 3 doses: 0, 100 or 250 mg/kg. Subjects were exposed via intragastric gavage on embryonic day 9 and embryos were collected 7 h after the initial ethanol administrations. Cell death was analyzed using TUNEL staining in the developing forebrain and brainstem. Results Choline ameliorated the ethanol-induced cell death across all 4 strains without causing enhanced cell death in control mice. Choline was effective in both the developing telencephalon and in the brainstem. Both doses diminished cell death, with some differences across strains and brain regions, although the 100 mg/kg dose was most consistent in mitigating ethanol-related cell death. Comparisons across strains showed that there was an effect of strain, particularly in the forebrain at the higher dose. Discussion These results show that choline is effective in ameliorating ethanol-induced cell death at this early stage of nervous system development. However, there were some strain differences in its efficacy, especially at the high dose, providing further evidence of the importance of genetics in influencing the ability of choline to protect against prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fannia Xu
- University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Dan Goldowitz
- University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kristin M. Hamre
- Department Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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Fleming L, Sheridan C, Waite D, Klug MG, Burd L. Screening for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in infants and young children. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2023; 3:11125. [PMID: 38389826 PMCID: PMC10880768 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2023.11125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: With an estimated prevalence of up to five percent in the general population, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are the most common neurodevelopmental disorder and more prevalent than autism. Early identification and subsequent early intervention have the potential to improve developmental trajectory of children with FASD. In addition, new research suggests supplementation with choline may ameliorate the developmental impairments associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Availability of a screening tool with acceptable epidemiologic performance criteria may be clinical useful in identification of young children at increased risk for FASD. In this paper we describe the Early Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Screening Test (E-FAST) to identify young children at increased risk for an FASD. Methods: We developed the E-FAST dataset from previously published studies, comprised of 281 children under 5 years of age, 180 (64.1%) were diagnosed with FASD and 101 (35.9%) were non-FASD. Analysis: The analysis identified seven useful variables (prenatal alcohol exposure, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), foster care or adopted, small OFC (occipital frontal circumference), communication impairments, impaired social skills, and cognitive deficits. All variables were categorized as yes/no for ease of use in a screening tool. Risk ratios for each of the seven indicators were estimated using two-way table analyses. Weights for each variable were estimated based on the relative strength of their odds ratios. Results: The average age was 2.7 years of age (S.D. 1.29) and ranged from infant (6.4%) to 4 years old (35.9%). Maternal alcohol use alone had a sensitivity of 0.97, specificity 0.65, and accuracy 0.86. For the combined seven variables, sensitivity was 0.94, specificity 0.74, and accuracy 0.87. Thus, the seven-item E-FAST screen had acceptable epidemiologic screening characteristics. Discussion: In the United States, up to 547 infants with FASD are born each day which far exceeds the capacity of multidisciplinary diagnostic clinics. During routine clinical management of infants and young children the use of an evidence-based screening tool provides a time efficient means to exclude large numbers of young children from further follow-up for FASD. Conversely, a positive screen identifies a smaller number of children at increased risk for FASD requiring more intensive evaluation and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Fleming
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Connor Sheridan
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Douglas Waite
- Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics, BronxCare Health System, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Marilyn G Klug
- Department of Population Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Larry Burd
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
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14
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de la Monte SM, Tong M, Delikkaya B. Differential Early Mechanistic Frontal Lobe Responses to Choline Chloride and Soy Isoflavones in an Experimental Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7595. [PMID: 37108779 PMCID: PMC10145811 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087595] [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: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the most common preventable cause of neurodevelopmental defects, and white matter is a major target of ethanol neurotoxicity. Therapeutic interventions with choline or dietary soy could potentially supplement public health preventive measures. However, since soy contains abundant choline, it would be important to know if its benefits are mediated by choline or isoflavones. We compared early mechanistic responses to choline and the Daidzein+Genistein (D+G) soy isoflavones in an FASD model using frontal lobe tissue to assess oligodendrocyte function and Akt-mTOR signaling. Long Evans rat pups were binge administered 2 g/Kg of ethanol or saline (control) on postnatal days P3 and P5. P7 frontal lobe slice cultures were treated with vehicle (Veh), Choline chloride (Chol; 75 µM), or D+G (1 µM each) for 72 h without further ethanol exposures. The expression levels of myelin oligodendrocyte proteins and stress-related molecules were measured by duplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and mTOR signaling proteins and phosphoproteins were assessed using 11-plex magnetic bead-based ELISAs. Ethanol's main short-term effects in Veh-treated cultures were to increase GFAP and relative PTEN phosphorylation and reduce Akt phosphorylation. Chol and D+G significantly modulated the expression of oligodendrocyte myelin proteins and mediators of insulin/IGF-1-Akt-mTOR signaling in both control and ethanol-exposed cultures. In general, the responses were more robust with D+G; the main exception was that RPS6 phosphorylation was significantly increased by Chol and not D+G. The findings suggest that dietary soy, with the benefits of providing complete nutrition together with Choline, could be used to help optimize neurodevelopment in humans at risk for FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. de la Monte
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medicine, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan Academic Institutions, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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15
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Popova S, Charness ME, Burd L, Crawford A, Hoyme HE, Mukherjee RAS, Riley EP, Elliott EJ. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:11. [PMID: 36823161 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00420-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol readily crosses the placenta and may disrupt fetal development. Harm from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is determined by the dose, pattern, timing and duration of exposure, fetal and maternal genetics, maternal nutrition, concurrent substance use, and epigenetic responses. A safe dose of alcohol use during pregnancy has not been established. PAE can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which are characterized by neurodevelopmental impairment with or without facial dysmorphology, congenital anomalies and poor growth. FASD are a leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disability. The prevalence of FASD in 76 countries is >1% and is high in individuals living in out-of-home care or engaged in justice and mental health systems. The social and economic effects of FASD are profound, but the diagnosis is often missed or delayed and receives little public recognition. Future research should be informed by people living with FASD and be guided by cultural context, seek consensus on diagnostic criteria and evidence-based treatments, and describe the pathophysiology and lifelong effects of FASD. Imperatives include reducing stigma, equitable access to services, improved quality of life for people with FASD and FASD prevention in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Popova
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Michael E Charness
- VA Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Larry Burd
- North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pediatric Therapy Services, Altru Health System, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Andi Crawford
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - H Eugene Hoyme
- Sanford Children's Genomic Medicine Consortium, Sanford Health, and University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Raja A S Mukherjee
- National UK FASD Clinic, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Redhill, Surrey, UK
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,New South Wales FASD Assessment Service, CICADA Centre for Care and Intervention for Children and Adolescents affected by Drugs and Alcohol, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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16
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Gimbel BA, Anthony ME, Ernst AM, Roediger DJ, de Water E, Eckerle JK, Boys CJ, Radke JP, Mueller BA, Fuglestad AJ, Zeisel SH, Georgieff MK, Wozniak JR. Long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of choline for neurodevelopment in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: corpus callosum white matter microstructure and neurocognitive outcomes. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:59. [PMID: 36526961 PMCID: PMC9756672 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a lifelong condition. Early interventions targeting core neurocognitive deficits have the potential to confer long-term neurodevelopmental benefits. Time-targeted choline supplementation is one such intervention that has been shown to provide neurodevelopmental benefits that emerge with age during childhood. We present a long-term follow-up study evaluating the neurodevelopmental effects of early choline supplementation in children with FASD approximately 7 years on average after an initial efficacy trial. METHODS The initial study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of choline vs. placebo in 2.5 to 5 year olds with FASD. Participants in this long-term follow-up study include 18 children (9 placebo; 9 choline) seen 7 years on average following initial trial completion. The mean age at follow-up was 11.0 years old. Diagnoses were 28% fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28% partial FAS, and 44% alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. The follow-up included measures of executive functioning and an MRI scan. RESULTS Children who received choline had better performance on several tasks of lower-order executive function (e.g., processing speed) and showed higher white matter microstructure organization (i.e., greater axon coherence) in the splenium of the corpus callosum compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary findings, although exploratory at this stage, highlight potential long-term benefits of choline as a neurodevelopmental intervention for FASD and suggest that choline may affect white matter development, representing a potential target of choline in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prior to enrollment, this trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT01149538 ) on June 23, 2010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A. Gimbel
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Mary E. Anthony
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Abigail M. Ernst
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Donovan J. Roediger
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | | | - Judith K. Eckerle
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | | | | | - Bryon A. Mueller
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Anita J. Fuglestad
- grid.266865.90000 0001 2109 4358University of North Florida, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Steven H. Zeisel
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Michael K. Georgieff
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Jeffrey R. Wozniak
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
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17
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Early life nutrition and brain development: breakthroughs, challenges and new horizons. Proc Nutr Soc 2022:1-9. [PMID: 36321424 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665122002774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The role of early life nutrition's impact on relevant health outcomes across the lifespan laid the foundation for the field titled the developmental origins of health and disease. Studies in this area initially concentrated on nutrition and the risk of adverse cardio-metabolic and cancer outcomes. More recently the role of nutrition in early brain development and the subsequent influence of later mental health has become more evident. Scientific breakthroughs have elucidated two mechanisms behind long-term nutrient effects on the brain, including the existence of critical periods for certain nutrients during brain development and nutrient-driven epigenetic modifications of chromatin. While multiple nutrients and nutritional conditions have the potential to modify brain development, iron can serve as a paradigm to understand both mechanisms. New horizons in nutritional medicine include leveraging the mechanistic knowledge of nutrient-brain interactions to propose novel nutritional approaches that protect the developing brain through better timing of nutrient delivery and potential reversal of negative epigenetic marks. The main challenge in the field is detecting whether a change in nutritional status truly affects the brain's development and performance in human subjects. To that end, a strong case can be made to develop and utilise bioindicators of a nutrient's effect on the developing brain instead of relying exclusively on biomarkers of the nutrient's status.
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18
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Choline Supplementation Modifies the Effects of Developmental Alcohol Exposure on Immune Responses in Adult Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14142868. [PMID: 35889826 PMCID: PMC9316525 DOI: 10.3390/nu14142868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can disrupt the development of numerous systems, including the immune system. Indeed, alterations in cytokine levels may contribute to the neuropathological, behavioral, and cognitive problems, and other adverse outcomes observed in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Importantly, supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can improve performance in hippocampal-dependent behaviors; thus, the present study examined the effects of choline on plasma and hippocampal cytokines in adult rats exposed to ethanol in early development. From postnatal day (PD) 4–9 (third trimester equivalent), pups received ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) or Sham intubations. Subjects were treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) or saline from PD10–30. On PD60, plasma and hippocampal tissue was collected before and after an immune challenge (lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 50 ug/kg). Prior to the immune challenge, ethanol-exposed subjects showed an overall increase in hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines, an effect mitigated by choline supplementation. In contrast, in the plasma, choline reduced LPS-related increases in pro-inflammatory markers, particularly in ethanol-exposed subjects. Thus, early choline supplementation may modify both brain and peripheral inflammation. These results suggest that early choline can mitigate some long-term effects of ethanol exposure on hippocampal inflammation, which may contribute to improved hippocampal function, and could also influence peripheral immune responses that may impact overall health.
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19
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Brain Iron and Mental Health Symptoms in Youth with and without Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14112213. [PMID: 35684012 PMCID: PMC9183007 DOI: 10.3390/nu14112213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) negatively affects brain development and increases the risk of poor mental health. We investigated if brain volumes or magnetic susceptibility, an indirect measure of brain iron, were associated with internalizing or externalizing symptoms in youth with and without PAE. T1-weighted and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI scans were collected for 19 PAE and 40 unexposed participants aged 7.5–15 years. Magnetic susceptibility and volume of basal ganglia and limbic structures were extracted using FreeSurfer. Internalizing and Externalizing Problems were assessed using the Behavioural Assessment System for Children (BASC-2-PRS). Susceptibility in the nucleus accumbens was negatively associated with Internalizing Problems, while amygdala susceptibility was positively associated with Internalizing Problems across groups. PAE moderated the relationship between thalamus susceptibility and internalizing symptoms as well as the relationship between putamen susceptibility and externalizing symptoms. Brain volume was not related to internalizing or externalizing symptoms. These findings highlight that brain iron is related to internalizing and externalizing symptoms differently in some brain regions for youth with and without PAE. Atypical iron levels (high or low) may indicate mental health issues across individuals, and iron in the thalamus may be particularly important for behavior in individuals with PAE.
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20
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Grafe EL, Wade MMM, Hodson CE, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Postnatal Choline Supplementation Rescues Deficits in Synaptic Plasticity Following Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. Nutrients 2022; 14:2004. [PMID: 35631142 PMCID: PMC9146219 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental impairments, yet treatments for individuals with PNEE are limited. Importantly, postnatal supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can attenuate some adverse effects of PNEE on cognitive development; however, the mechanisms of action for choline supplementation remain unclear. This study used an animal model to determine if choline supplementation could restore hippocampal synaptic plasticity that is normally impaired by prenatal alcohol. Throughout gestation, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were fed an ethanol liquid diet (35.5% ethanol-derived calories). Offspring were injected with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) from postnatal days (PD) 10-30, and then used for in vitro electrophysiology experiments as juveniles (PD 31-35). High-frequency conditioning stimuli were used to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial perforant path input to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. PNEE altered synaptic transmission in female offspring by increasing excitability, an effect that was mitigated with choline supplementation. In contrast, PNEE juvenile males had decreased LTP compared to controls, and this was rescued by choline supplementation. These data demonstrate sex-specific changes in plasticity following PNEE, and provide evidence that choline-related improvements in cognitive functioning may be due to its positive impact on hippocampal synaptic physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Grafe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Mira M. M. Wade
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Claire E. Hodson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Brian R. Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
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Steane SE, Kumar V, Cuffe JSM, Moritz KM, Akison LK. Prenatal Choline Supplementation Alters One Carbon Metabolites in a Rat Model of Periconceptional Alcohol Exposure. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14091874. [PMID: 35565848 PMCID: PMC9100923 DOI: 10.3390/nu14091874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure disturbs fetal and placental growth and can alter DNA methylation (DNAm). Supplementation with the methyl donor choline can increase fetal and placental growth and restore DNAm, suggesting converging effects on one-carbon metabolism (1CM). We investigated the impact of periconceptional ethanol (PCE) exposure and prenatal choline supplementation on 1CM in maternal, placental, and fetal compartments. Female Sprague Dawley rats were given a liquid diet containing 12.5% ethanol (PCE) or 0% ethanol (control) for 4 days before and 4 days after conception. Dams were then placed on chow with different concentrations of choline (1.6 g, 2.6 g, or 7.2 g choline/kg chow). Plasma and tissues were collected in late gestation for the analysis of 1CM components by means of mass spectrometry and real-time PCR. PCE reduced placental components of 1CM, particularly those relating to folate metabolism, resulting in a 3−7.5-fold reduction in the ratio of s-adenosylmethionine:s-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM:SAH) (p < 0.0001). Choline supplementation increased placental 1CM components and the SAM:SAH ratio (3.5−14.5-fold, p < 0.0001). In the maternal and fetal compartments, PCE had little effect, whereas choline increased components of 1CM. This suggests that PCE impairs fetal development via altered placental 1CM, highlighting its role in modulating nutritional inputs to optimize fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Steane
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.S.); (V.K.); (J.S.M.C.); (K.M.M.)
| | - Vinod Kumar
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.S.); (V.K.); (J.S.M.C.); (K.M.M.)
| | - James S. M. Cuffe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.S.); (V.K.); (J.S.M.C.); (K.M.M.)
| | - Karen M. Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.S.); (V.K.); (J.S.M.C.); (K.M.M.)
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Lisa K. Akison
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.S.); (V.K.); (J.S.M.C.); (K.M.M.)
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- Correspondence:
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