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Licheri V, Chandrasekaran J, Kenton JA, Bird CW, Valenzuela CF, Brigman JL. Optogenetic stimulation of corticostriatal circuits improves behavioral flexibility in mice with prenatal alcohol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2024; 247:109860. [PMID: 38336243 PMCID: PMC10901293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the most common preventable form of developmental and neurobehavioral disability. Animal models have demonstrated that even low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is sufficient to impair behavioral flexibility in multiple domains. Previously, utilizing a moderate limited access drinking in the dark paradigm, we have shown that PAE 1) impairs touchscreen pairwise visual reversal in male adult offspring 2) leads to small but significant decreases in orbitofrontal (OFC) firing rates 3) significantly increases dorsal striatum (dS) activity and 4) aberrantly sustains OFC-dS synchrony across early reversal. In the current study, we examined whether optogenetic stimulation of OFC-dS projection neurons would be sufficient to rescue the behavioral inflexibility induced by PAE in male C57BL/6J mice. Following discrimination learning, we targeted OFC-dS projections using a retrograde adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivered to the dS which expressed channel rhodopsin (ChR2). During the first four sessions of reversal learning, we delivered high frequency optogenetic stimulation to the OFC via optic fibers immediately following correct choice responses. Our results show that optogenetic stimulation significantly reduced the number of sessions, incorrect responses, and correction errors required to move past the early perseverative phase for both PAE and control mice. In addition, OFC-dS stimulation during early reversal learning reduced the increased sessions, correct and incorrect responding seen in PAE mice during the later learning phase of reversal but did not significantly alter later performance in control ChR2 mice. Taken together these results suggest that stimulation of OFC-dS projections can improve early reversal learning in PAE and control mice, and these improvements can persist even into later stages of the task days later. These studies provide an important foundation for future clinical approaches to improve executive control in those with FASD. This article is part of the Special Issue on "PFC circuit function in psychiatric disease and relevant models".
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Licheri
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA; New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, UNM Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | | | - Johnny A Kenton
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA; New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, UNM Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jonathan L Brigman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA; New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, UNM Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Bird CW, Mayfield SS, Lopez KM, Dunn BR, Feng A, Roberts BT, Almeida RN, Chavez GJ, Valenzuela CF. Binge-like ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt disrupts the function of retrosplenial cortex-projecting anterior thalamic neurons in adolescent mice. Neuropharmacology 2023; 241:109738. [PMID: 37778437 PMCID: PMC10842955 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during late pregnancy leads to enduring impairments in learning and memory that may stem from damage to components of the posterior limbic memory system, including the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN). In rodents, binge-like EtOH exposure during the first week of life (equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy) triggers apoptosis in these brain regions. We hypothesized that this effect induces long-lasting alterations in the function of RSC-projecting ATN neurons. To test this hypothesis, vesicular GABA transporter-Venus mice (expressing fluorescently tagged GABAergic interneurons) were subjected to binge-like EtOH vapor exposure on postnatal day (P) 7. This paradigm activated caspase 3 in the anterodorsal (AD), anteroventral (AV), and reticular thalamic nuclei at P7 but did not reduce neuronal density in these areas at P60-70. At P40-60, we injected red retrobeads into the RSC and performed patch-clamp slice electrophysiological recordings from retrogradely labeled neurons in the AD and AV nuclei 3-4 days later. We found significant effects of treatment on instantaneous action potential (AP) frequency and AP overshoot, as well as sex × treatment interactions for AP threshold and overshoot in AD neurons. A sex × treatment interaction was detected for AP number in AV neurons. EtOH exposure also reduced the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and increased the charge transfer of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents. These results highlight a novel cellular mechanism that could contribute to the lasting learning and memory deficits associated with developmental EtOH exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Stefanie S Mayfield
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Katalina M Lopez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Brooke R Dunn
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Angela Feng
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Bryce T Roberts
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Roberto N Almeida
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Glenna J Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
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Bird CW, Valenzuela CF. The positive allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors, GNE-9278, blocks the ethanol-induced decrease of excitability in developing retrosplenial cortex neurons from mice. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2023; 43:77-84. [PMID: 36524248 PMCID: PMC10009431 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Binge-like exposure to ethanol during the brain growth spurt triggers apoptotic neurodegeneration in multiple brain regions, including the retrosplenial cortex, a brain region that is part of the hippocampal-diencephalic-cingulate memory network. This is mediated, in part, by reduced Ca2+ influx through N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors followed by a decrease in the activation of pro-survival genes. Here, we tested whether a positive allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors could counteract the inhibitory effect of ethanol on developing retrosplenial cortex pyramidal neurons. We used patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques in acute slices from postnatal day 6-8 mice to test the effect of the positive allosteric modulator GNE-9278 on ethanol-induced inhibition of NMDA receptor function. GNE-9278 dose-dependently increased the amplitude, decay time, and total charge of NMDA excitatory postsynaptic currents. At a concentration of 5 μmol L-1 , GNE-9278 significantly reduced the 90 mmol L-1 ethanol-induced inhibition of NMDA excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude, decay time, and total charge. Current-clamp experiments showed that 5 μmol L-1 GNE-9278 ameliorated the 90 mmol L-1 ethanol-induced inhibition of synaptically-evoked action potential firing and compound excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude. These findings indicate that positive allosteric modulators mitigate ethanol-induced hypofunction of NMDA receptors in developing cerebral cortex neurons, an effect that could ameliorate its pro-apoptotic effects during the late stages of fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Carlos F Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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Dickerman RD, Williamson J, Mathew E, Butt CM, Bird CW, Hood LE, Grimshaw V. Branched-Chain Amino Acids Are Neuroprotective Against Traumatic Brain Injury and Enhance Rate of Recovery: Prophylactic Role for Contact Sports and Emergent Use. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:321-332. [PMID: 36060454 PMCID: PMC9438436 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are known to be neurorestorative after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite clinically significant improvements in severe TBI patients given BCAAs after TBI, the approach is largely an unrecognized option. Further, TBI continues to be the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in adolescents and adults. To date, no study has evaluated whether BCAAs can be preventive or neuroprotective if taken before a TBI. We hypothesized that if BCAAs were elevated in the circulation before TBI, the brain would readily access the BCAAs and the severity of injury would be reduced. Before TBI induction with a standard weight-drop method, 50 adult mice were randomized into groups that were shams, untreated, and pre-treated, post-treated, or pre- + post-treated with BCAAs. Pre-treated mice received BCAAs through supplemented water and were dosed by oral gavage 45 min before TBI induction. All mice underwent beam walking to assess motor recovery, and the Morris water maze assessed cognitive function post-injury. On post-injury day 14, brains were harvested to assess levels of astrocytes and microglia with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1) immunohistochemistry, respectively. Pre-treated and pre- +post-treated mice exhibited significantly better motor recovery and cognitive function than the other groups. The pre- + post-treated group had the best overall memory performance, whereas the pre-treated and post-treated groups only had limited improvements in memory compared to untreated animals. Pre- + post-treated brains had levels of GFAP that were similar to the sham group, whereas the pre-only and post-only groups showed increases. Although trends existed, no meaningful changes in IBA-1 were detected. This is the first study, animal or human, to demonstrate that BCAA are neuroprotective and substantiates their neurorestorative benefits after TBI, most likely through the important roles of BCAAs to glutamate homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob D. Dickerman
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), Frisco, Texas, USA
| | - Julie Williamson
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), Frisco, Texas, USA
| | - Ezek Mathew
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), Frisco, Texas, USA
| | | | - Clark W. Bird
- Department of Neuroscience, Inotiv-Boulder, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Lauren E. Hood
- Department of Neuroscience, Inotiv-Boulder, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Vivian Grimshaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Inotiv-Boulder, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Licheri V, Chandrasekaran J, Bird CW, Valenzuela CF, Brigman JL. Sex-specific effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function in orbitofrontal cortex pyramidal neurons of mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:1994-2005. [PMID: 34523139 PMCID: PMC8602746 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can produce behavioral and cognitive deficits that persist into adulthood. These include impairments in executive functions, learning, planning, and cognitive flexibility. We have previously shown that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) significantly impairs reversal learning, a measure of flexibility mediated across species by different brain areas that include the orbital frontal cortex (OFC). Reversal learning is likewise impaired by genetic or pharmacological inactivation of GluN2B subunit-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that moderate PAE persistently alters the number and function of GluN2B subunit-containing NMDARs in OFC pyramidal neurons of adult mice. METHODS We used a rodent model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and left offspring undisturbed until adulthood. Using whole-cell, patch-clamp recordings, we assessed NMDAR function in slices from 90- to 100-day-old male and female PAE and control mice. Pharmacologically isolated NMDA receptor-mediated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (NMDA-eEPSCs) were recorded in the absence and presence of the GluN2B antagonist, Ro25-6981(1 µM). In a subset of littermates, we evaluated the level of GluN2B protein expression in the synaptic fraction using Western blotting technique. RESULTS Our results indicate that PAE females show significantly larger (~23%) NMDA-eEPSC amplitudes than controls, while PAE induced a significant decrease (~17%) in NMDA-eEPSC current density of pyramidal neurons recorded in slices from male mice. NMDA-eEPSC decay time was not affected in PAE-exposed mice from either sex. The contribution of GluN2B subunit-containing NMDARs to the eEPSCs was not significantly altered by PAE. Moreover, there were no significant changes in protein expression in the synaptic fraction of either PAE males or females. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that low-to-moderate PAE modulates NMDAR function in pyramidal neurons in a sex-specific manner, although we did not find evidence that the effect is mediated by dysfunction of synaptic GluN2B subunit-containing NMDARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Licheri
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque NM, USA
| | | | - Clark W. Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque NM, USA
| | - C. Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque NM, USA
- New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, UNM Health Sciences
Center, Albuquerque NM, USA
| | - Jonathan L. Brigman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
School of Medicine, Albuquerque NM, USA
- New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, UNM Health Sciences
Center, Albuquerque NM, USA
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Kenton JA, Ontiveros T, Bird CW, Valenzuela CF, Brigman JL. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure alters the number and function of GABAergic interneurons in the murine orbitofrontal cortex. Alcohol 2020; 88:33-41. [PMID: 32540413 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol during development produces Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), characterized by a wide range of effects that include deficits in multiple cognitive domains. Early identification and treatment of individuals with FASD remain a challenge because neurobehavioral alterations do not become a significant problem until late childhood and early adolescence. Understanding the mechanisms underlying low and moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) effects on behavior and cognition is essential for improved diagnosis and treatment. Here, we examined the functional and morphological changes in an area known to be involved in executive control, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We found that a moderate PAE model, previously shown to impair behavioral flexibility and to alter OFC activity in vivo, produced moderate functional and morphological changes within the OFC of mice in vitro. Specifically, slice electrophysiological recordings of spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents in OFC pyramidal neurons revealed a significant increase in the amplitude and area in PAE mice relative to controls. Immunohistochemistry uncovered an increase in calretinin-, but not somatostatin- or parvalbumin-expressing cortical interneurons in the OFC of PAE mice. Together, these data suggest that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure alters the disinhibitory function in the OFC, which may contribute to the executive function deficits associated with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny A Kenton
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Tiahna Ontiveros
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Jonathan L Brigman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
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Jacquez B, Choi H, Bird CW, Linsenbardt DN, Valenzuela CF. Characterization of motor function in mice developmentally exposed to ethanol using the Catwalk system: Comparison with the triple horizontal bar and rotarod tests. Behav Brain Res 2020; 396:112885. [PMID: 32860829 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Studies with human subjects indicate that ethanol exposure during fetal development causes long-lasting alterations in motor coordination that are, in part, a consequence of cerebellar damage. Studies with rats exposed to ethanol during the neonatal brain growth spurt have consistently recapitulated these deficits. However, studies with mice have yielded mixed results. We hypothesized that the use of highly sensitive motor function tests, such as the Catwalk test, would reliably detect motor function deficits in mice developmentally exposed to ethanol. Venus-vesicular GABA transporter transgenic mice were ethanol exposed during postnatal days 4-9 using vapor inhalation chambers and then subjected to the Catwalk test during adolescence. Catwalk data were rigorously analyzed using an innovative multistep statistical approach. For comparison, motor coordination and strength were assessed with the triple horizontal bar and rotarod tests. Unexpectedly, we found that out of 186 parameters analyzed in the Catwalk test, only one was affected by ethanol exposure (i.e., reduced coupling between left front paw and the right hind paw). In the triple horizontal bar test, ethanol-exposed mice were able to hold to the bars for less time than controls. Surprisingly, ethanol-exposed mice performed better in the rotarod test than controls. These data indicate that neonatal ethanol exposure of mice causes mixed effects on motor function during adolescence. The Catwalk test suggests that gait is generally preserved in these mice, whereas the triple horizontal bar test revealed deficits on motor strength and the rotarod test an increase in motor coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belkis Jacquez
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Hyesun Choi
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - David N Linsenbardt
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
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Bird CW, Barber MJ, Martin J, Mayfield JJ, Valenzuela CF. The mouse-equivalent of the human BDNF VAL66MET polymorphism increases dorsal hippocampal volume and does not interact with developmental ethanol exposure. Alcohol 2020; 86:17-24. [PMID: 32224221 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A relatively common polymorphism in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Val66Met, which corresponds to Val68Met in mice) has been shown to modulate cognitive function and vulnerability to mental health disorders. This substitution impairs trafficking and activity-dependent release of BDNF. A number of studies with both humans and transgenic mice suggest that carriers of the Met allele have deficits in the structure and/or function of the hippocampal formation. Using a relatively new transgenic mouse model of this polymorphism, we recently demonstrated that it modulates the effects of developmental ethanol exposure in the hippocampus. Here, we further characterized the effect of this polymorphism on hippocampal morphology and its interaction with ethanol vapor exposure during the 2nd and 3rd trimester equivalents of human pregnancy. We found that BDNFmet/met mice have slightly larger hippocampal volumes than BDNFval/val mice. Ethanol vapor exposure during the 2nd and 3rd trimester equivalents of human pregnancy increased hippocampal volume in a single hippocampal subregion, the CA1 stratum radiatum. Ethanol exposure did not interact with BDNF genotype to affect volume in any hippocampal subregion. These results suggest that the Val66Met polymorphism does not reduce hippocampal size (i.e., it rather increases it slightly) or increase susceptibility to prenatal ethanol exposure-induced structural hippocampal damage during adulthood.
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Bird CW, Barber MJ, Post HR, Jacquez B, Chavez GJ, Faturos NG, Valenzuela CF. Neonatal ethanol exposure triggers apoptosis in the murine retrosplenial cortex: Role of inhibition of NMDA receptor-driven action potential firing. Neuropharmacology 2019; 162:107837. [PMID: 31689422 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ethanol during the last trimester equivalent of human pregnancy causes apoptotic neurodegeneration in the developing brain, an effect that is thought to be mediated, in part, by inhibition of NMDA receptors. However, NMDA receptors can rapidly adapt to the acute effects of ethanol and are ethanol resistant in some populations of developing neurons. Here, we characterized the effect of ethanol on NMDA and non-NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), a brain region involved in the integration of different modalities of spatial information that is among the most sensitive regions to ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. A single 4-h exposure to ethanol vapor of 7-day-old transgenic mice that express the Venus fluorescent protein in interneurons triggered extensive apoptosis in the RSC. Slice electrophysiological recordings showed that bath-applied ethanol inhibits NMDA and non-NMDA receptor excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in pyramidal neurons and interneurons; however, we found no evidence of acute tolerance development to this effect after the 4-h in-vivo ethanol vapor exposure. Acute bath application of ethanol reduced action potential firing evoked by synaptic stimulation to a greater extent in pyramidal neurons than interneurons. Submaximal inhibition of NMDA EPSCs, but not non-NMDA EPSCs, mimicked the acute effect of ethanol on synaptically-evoked action potential firing. These findings indicate that partial inhibition of NMDA receptors by ethanol has sizable effects on the excitability of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the developing RSC, and suggest that positive allosteric modulators of these receptors could ameliorate ethanol intoxication-induced neurodegeneration during late stages of fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Megan J Barber
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Hilary R Post
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Belkis Jacquez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Glenna J Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Nicholas G Faturos
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
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Bird CW, Taylor DH, Pinkowski NJ, Chavez GJ, Valenzuela CF. Long-term Reductions in the Population of GABAergic Interneurons in the Mouse Hippocampus following Developmental Ethanol Exposure. Neuroscience 2018; 383:60-73. [PMID: 29753864 PMCID: PMC5994377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Developmental exposure to ethanol leads to a constellation of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Many cell types throughout the central nervous system are negatively impacted by gestational alcohol exposure, including inhibitory, GABAergic interneurons. Little evidence exists, however, describing the long-term impact of fetal alcohol exposure on survival of interneurons within the hippocampal formation, which is critical for learning and memory processes that are impaired in individuals with FASDs. Mice expressing Venus yellow fluorescent protein in inhibitory interneurons were exposed to vaporized ethanol during the third trimester equivalent of human gestation (postnatal days 2-9), and the long-term effects on interneuron numbers were measured using unbiased stereology at P90. In adulthood, interneuron populations were reduced in every hippocampal region examined. Moreover, we found that a single exposure to ethanol at P7 caused robust activation of apoptotic neurodegeneration of interneurons in the hilus, granule cell layer, CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. These studies demonstrate that developmental ethanol exposure has a long-term impact on hippocampal interneuron survivability, and may provide a mechanism partially explaining deficits in hippocampal function and hippocampus-dependent behaviors in those afflicted with FASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Devin H Taylor
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Natalie J Pinkowski
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - G Jill Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
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Bird CW, Baculis BC, Mayfield JJ, Chavez GJ, Ontiveros T, Paine DJ, Marks AJ, Gonzales AL, Ron D, Valenzuela CF. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor VAL68MET polymorphism modulates how developmental ethanol exposure impacts the hippocampus. Genes Brain Behav 2018; 18:e12484. [PMID: 29691979 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol causes a wide range of deficits known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Many factors determine vulnerability to developmental alcohol exposure including timing and pattern of exposure, nutrition and genetics. Here, we characterized how a prevalent single nucleotide polymorphism in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (val66met) modulates FASDs severity. This polymorphism disrupts BDNF's intracellular trafficking and activity-dependent secretion, and has been linked to increased incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. We hypothesized that developmental ethanol (EtOH) exposure more severely affects mice carrying this polymorphism. We used transgenic mice homozygous for either valine (BDNFval/val ) or methionine (BDNFmet/met ) in residue 68, equivalent to residue 66 in humans. To model EtOH exposure during the second and third trimesters of human pregnancy, we exposed mice to EtOH in vapor chambers during gestational days 12 to 19 and postnatal days 2 to 9. We found that EtOH exposure reduces cell layer volume in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 hippocampal regions of BDNFmet/met but not BDNFval/val mice during the juvenile period (postnatal day 15). During adulthood, EtOH exposure reduced anxiety-like behavior and disrupted trace fear conditioning in BDNFmet/met mice, with most effects observed in males. EtOH exposure reduced adult neurogenesis only in the ventral hippocampus of BDNFval/val male mice. These studies show that the BDNF val66met polymorphism modulates, in a complex manner, the effects of developmental EtOH exposure, and identify a novel genetic risk factor that may regulate FASDs severity in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Bird
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - B C Baculis
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - J J Mayfield
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - G J Chavez
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - T Ontiveros
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - D J Paine
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - A J Marks
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - A L Gonzales
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - D Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - C F Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Donaldson TN, Barto D, Bird CW, Magcalas CM, Rodriguez CI, Fink BC, Hamilton DA. Social Order: Using The Sequential Structure of Social Interaction to Discriminate Abnormal Social Behavior in the Rat. Learn Motiv 2017; 61:41-51. [PMID: 30034031 PMCID: PMC6053068 DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions form the basis of a broad range of functions related to survival and mating. The complexity of social behaviors and the flexibility required for normal social interactions make social behavior particularly susceptible to disruption. The consequences of developmental insults in the social domain and the associated neurobiological factors are commonly studied in rodents. Though methods for investigating social interactions in the laboratory are diverse, animals are typically placed together in an apparatus for a brief period (under 30 min) and allowed to interact freely while behavior is recorded for subsequent analysis. A standard approach to the analysis of social behavior involves quantification of the frequency and duration of individual social behaviors. This approach provides information about the allocation of time to particular behaviors within a session, which is typically sufficient for detection of robust alterations in behavior. Virtually all social species, however, display complex sequences of social behavior that are not captured in the quantification of individual behaviors. Sequences of behavior may provide more sensitive indicators of disruptions in social behavior. Sophisticated analysis systems for quantification of behavior sequences have been available for many years; however, the required training and time to complete these analyses represent significant barriers to high-throughput assessments. We present a simple approach to the quantification of behavioral sequences that requires minimal additional analytical steps after individual behaviors are coded. We implement this approach to identify altered social behavior in rats exposed to alcohol during prenatal development, and show that the frequency of several pairwise sequences of behavior discriminate controls from ethanol-exposed rats when the frequency of individual behaviors involved in those sequences does not. Thus, the approach described here may be useful in detecting subtle deficits in the social domain and identifying neural circuits involved in the organization of social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tia N. Donaldson
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Clark W. Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | | | | | - Brandi C. Fink
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Derek A. Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
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Bird CW, Barto D, Magcalas CM, Rodriguez CI, Donaldson T, Davies S, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Ifenprodil infusion in agranular insular cortex alters social behavior and vocalizations in rats exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during prenatal development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 320:1-11. [PMID: 27888019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Moderate exposure to alcohol during development leads to subtle neurobiological and behavioral effects classified under the umbrella term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Alterations in social behaviors are a frequently observed consequence of maternal drinking, as children with FASDs display inappropriate aggressive behaviors and altered responses to social cues. Rodent models of FASDs mimic the behavioral alterations seen in humans, with rats exposed to ethanol during development displaying increased aggressive behaviors, decreased social investigation, and altered play behavior. Work from our laboratory has observed increased wrestling behavior in adult male rats following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and increased expression of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in the agranular insular cortex (AIC). This study was undertaken to determine if ifenprodil, a GluN2B preferring negative allosteric modulator, has a significant effect on social behaviors in PAE rats. Using a voluntary ethanol exposure paradigm, rat dams were allowed to drink a saccharin-sweetened solution of either 0% or 5% ethanol throughout gestation. Offspring at 6-8 months of age were implanted with cannulae into AIC. Animals were isolated for 24h before ifenprodil or vehicle was infused into AIC, and after 15min they were recorded in a social interaction chamber. Ifenprodil treatment altered aspects of wrestling, social investigatory behaviors, and ultrasonic vocalizations in rats exposed to ethanol during development that were not observed in control animals. These data indicate that GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in AIC play a role in social behaviors and may underlie alterations in behavior and vocalizations observed in PAE animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Tia Donaldson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Rodriguez CI, Magcalas CM, Barto D, Fink BC, Rice JP, Bird CW, Davies S, Pentkowski NS, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Effects of sex and housing on social, spatial, and motor behavior in adult rats exposed to moderate levels of alcohol during prenatal development. Behav Brain Res 2016; 313:233-243. [PMID: 27424779 PMCID: PMC4987176 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Persistent deficits in social behavior, motor behavior, and behavioral flexibility are among the major negative consequences associated with exposure to ethanol during prenatal development. Prior work from our laboratory has linked moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat to deficits in these behavioral domains, which depend upon the ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. Manipulations of the social environment cause modifications of dendritic morphology and experience-dependent immediate early gene expression in ventrolateral frontal cortex (Hamilton et al., 2010) [19], and may yield positive behavioral outcomes following PAE. In the present study we evaluated the effects of housing PAE rats with non-exposed control rats on adult behavior. Rats of both sexes were either paired with a partner from the same prenatal treatment condition (ethanol or saccharin) or from the opposite condition (mixed housing condition). At four months of age (∼3 months after the housing manipulation commenced), social behavior, tongue protrusion, and behavioral flexibility in the Morris water task were measured as in (Hamilton et al., 2014) [20]. The behavioral effects of moderate PAE were primarily limited to males and were not ameliorated by housing with a non-ethanol exposed partner. Unexpectedly, social behavior, motor behavior, and spatial flexibility were adversely affected in control rats housed with a PAE rat (i.e., in mixed housing), indicating that housing with a PAE rat has broad behavioral consequences beyond the social domain. These observations provide further evidence that moderate PAE negatively affects social behavior, and underscore the importance of considering potential negative effects of housing with PAE animals on the behavior of critical comparison groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - James P Rice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nathan S Pentkowski
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
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Bird CW, Candelaria-Cook FT, Magcalas CM, Davies S, Valenzuela CF, Savage DD, Hamilton DA. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure enhances GluN2B containing NMDA receptor binding and ifenprodil sensitivity in rat agranular insular cortex. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118721. [PMID: 25747876 PMCID: PMC4351952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to alcohol affects the expression and function of glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptors in diverse brain regions. The present study was undertaken to fill a current gap in knowledge regarding the regional specificity of ethanol-related alterations in glutamatergic receptors in the frontal cortex. We quantified subregional expression and function of glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptors (AMPARs, NMDARs, GluN2B-containing NMDARs, mGluR1s, and mGluR5s) by radioligand binding in the agranular insular cortex (AID), lateral orbital area (LO), prelimbic cortex (PrL) and primary motor cortex (M1) of adult rats exposed to moderate levels of ethanol during prenatal development. Increased expression of GluN2B-containing NMDARs was observed in AID of ethanol-exposed rats compared to modest reductions in other regions. We subsequently performed slice electrophysiology measurements in a whole-cell patch-clamp preparation to quantify the sensitivity of evoked NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of AID to the GluN2B negative allosteric modulator ifenprodil. Consistent with increased GluN2B expression, ifenprodil caused a greater reduction in NMDAR-mediated EPSCs from prenatal alcohol-exposed rats than saccharin-exposed control animals. No alterations in AMPAR-mediated EPSCs or the ratio of AMPARs/NMDARs were observed. Together, these data indicate that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure has a significant and lasting impact on GluN2B-containing receptors in AID, which could help to explain ethanol-related alterations in learning and behaviors that depend on this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark W. Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | | | - Christy M. Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - C. Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Daniel D. Savage
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Derek A. Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hamilton DA, Magcalas CM, Barto D, Bird CW, Rodriguez CI, Fink BC, Pellis SM, Davies S, Savage DD. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and quantification of social behavior in adult rats. J Vis Exp 2014. [PMID: 25549080 DOI: 10.3791/52407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in social behavior are among the major negative consequences observed in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Several independent laboratories have demonstrated robust alterations in the social behavior of rodents exposed to alcohol during brain development across a wide range of exposure durations, timing, doses, and ages at the time of behavioral quantification. Prior work from this laboratory has identified reliable alterations in specific forms of social interaction following moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat that persist well into adulthood, including increased wrestling and decreased investigation. These behavioral alterations have been useful in identifying neural circuits altered by moderate PAE(1), and may hold importance for progressing toward a more complete understanding of the neural bases of PAE-related alterations in social behavior. This paper describes procedures for performing moderate PAE in which rat dams voluntarily consume ethanol or saccharin (control) throughout gestation, and measurement of social behaviors in adult offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico;
| | | | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico
| | | | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico
| | - Sergio M Pellis
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico
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Hamilton DA, Barto D, Rodriguez CI, Magcalas CM, Fink BC, Rice JP, Bird CW, Davies S, Savage DD. Effects of moderate prenatal ethanol exposure and age on social behavior, spatial response perseveration errors and motor behavior. Behav Brain Res 2014; 269:44-54. [PMID: 24769174 PMCID: PMC4134935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Persistent deficits in social behavior are among the major negative consequences associated with exposure to ethanol during prenatal development. Prior work from our laboratory has linked deficits in social behavior following moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the rat to functional alterations in the ventrolateral frontal cortex [21]. In addition to social behaviors, the regions comprising the ventrolateral frontal cortex are critical for diverse processes ranging from orofacial motor movements to flexible alteration of behavior in the face of changing consequences. The broader behavioral implications of altered ventrolateral frontal cortex function following moderate PAE have, however, not been examined. In the present study we evaluated the consequences of moderate PAE on social behavior, tongue protrusion, and flexibility in a variant of the Morris water task that required modification of a well-established spatial response. PAE rats displayed deficits in tongue protrusion, reduced flexibility in the spatial domain, increased wrestling, and decreased investigation, indicating that several behaviors associated with ventrolateral frontal cortex function are impaired following moderate PAE. A linear discriminant analysis revealed that measures of wrestling and tongue protrusion provided the best discrimination of PAE rats from saccharin-exposed control rats. We also evaluated all behaviors in young adult (4-5 months) or older (10-11 months) rats to address the persistence of behavioral deficits in adulthood and possible interactions between early ethanol exposure and advancing age. Behavioral deficits in each domain persisted well into adulthood (10-11 months), however, there was no evidence that aging enhances the effects of moderate PAE within the age ranges that were studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
| | - Daniel Barto
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Carlos I Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Christy M Magcalas
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Brandi C Fink
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - James P Rice
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Clark W Bird
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Suzy Davies
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Daniel D Savage
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Abstract
Hu proteins are a family of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that are homologs of Drosophila ELAV, a protein required for nervous system development. Three of these proteins (HuB, HuC, and HuD) are primarily expressed in neurons. The fourth member, HuR is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. At the molecular level, Hu proteins are known to interact with AU-rich instability conferring sequences in the 3' UTR of specific target mRNAs, stabilizing the mRNAs. These proteins are not only the best known mRNA stabilizers but also the earliest markers of the neuronal cell lineage. Among the neuronal Hu proteins, HuD has been shown to accelerate neuronal differentiation and axonal outgrowth in neurons both in culture and in vivo. In addition, HuD and other Hu proteins participate in synaptic plasticity mechanisms in the mature central nervous system and promote regeneration of peripheral nerves. Furthermore, HuD has been implicated in pathological conditions from neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease to childhood brain tumors. This review will focus on the involvement of HuD in nervous system function and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Perrone-Bizzozero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether an isolated finding of a choroid plexus cyst (CPC) during routine ultrasound is associated with altered fetal growth or development. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, case-control study comparing 35 CPC cases to 67 controls. Neurobehavioral development assessment included 50 min long serial recordings of heart rate, motor activity and their interrelation at 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks gestation. Growth measurement was based on three ultrasound evaluations of femur length, biparietal diameter, head circumference and abdominal circumference at initial exam, 28 and 36 weeks. RESULTS Longitudinal analyses revealed no differences in fetal heart rate, variability or accelerations; the number or duration of fetal movements or total motor activity; nor fetal movement-fetal heart rate coupling. CPC cases had slightly smaller head and abdominal circumferences at 28 weeks, but these differences had disappeared by 36 weeks. CPC detection was more common when routine exams were conducted earlier (18.8 versus 19.5 weeks; P<0.01). CONCLUSION Despite the presumption that CPCs with normal karyotypes are benign variants, little empirical support exists. These results indicate that CPCs detected by prenatal ultrasound do not pose or reveal a threat to fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A DiPietro
- Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Bird CW. Five-Membered Ring Systems: Furans and Benzo Derivatives. Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry - A critical review of the 1989 literature preceded by one chapter on a current heterocyclic topic 1990. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-08-037070-5.50011-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Abstract
Examination of the metabolic products formed by five alkane-utilizing Pseudomonas organisms during growth on various alkanes and on glucose as sole carbon sources indicates that many metabolites may be of predominantly synthetic origin rather than intermediary metabolites of alkane breakdown. This conclusion is supported by an examination of the effect of fluoroacetate on such fermentations.
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Abstract
The growth of a Pseudomonas on n-decane was found to produce stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, decanoic acid, octanoic acid, beta-hydroxydecanoic acid, beta-hydroxyoctanoic acid, beta-hydroxyhexanoic acid and beta-hydroxyadipic acid. Small amounts of n-decanamide and n-valeramide were also isolated. The effects of nitrogen and oxygen limitation on the formation of these products in continuous fermentations is reported.
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