Effect of gestational ethanol exposure on parvalbumin and calretinin expressing hippocampal neurons in a chick model of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a condition occurring in some children of mothers who have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, is characterized by physical deformities and learning and memory deficits. The chick hippocampus, whose functions are controlled by interneurons expressing calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR), is involved in learning and memory mechanisms. Effects on growth and development and hippocampal morphology were studied in chick embryos exposed to 5% and 10% ethanol volume/volume (vol/vol) for 2 or 8 days of gestation. There was a significant dose-dependent reduction (P<.05) in body weight and mean number per section of PV and CR expressing hippocampal neurons in ethanol-exposed chicks, without alterations in neuronal nuclear size or hippocampal volume, compared appropriate controls. Moreover, when chicks exposed to 5% ethanol for 2 and 8 days of gestation were compared, no significant differences were found in body parameters or neuronal counts. Similarly, exposure to 10% ethanol did not induce any significant changes in chicks exposed for 2 or 8 gestational days. Thus, these results suggest that gestational ethanol exposure induces a reduction in the mean number per section of PV and CR expressing hippocampal neurons, and could be a possible mechanism responsible for learning and memory disorders in FAS.
Marshall
Audrey G
AG
Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, 19555N, 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA.
McCarthy
Molly M
MM
Brishnehan
Kirk M
KM
Rao
Venugopal
V
Batia
Lyn M
LM
Gupta
Madhul
M
Das
Srijit
S
Mitra
Nilesh K
NK
Chaudhuri
Joydeep D
JD
D000818:Animals; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D064032:Calbindin 2; D010320:Parvalbumins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D000431:Ethanol