title: Long-term alterations of striatal parvalbumin interneurons in a rat model of early exposure to alcohol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to alcohol in utero is a known cause of mental retardation. Although a certain degree of motor impairment is always associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, little is known about the neurobiological basis of the defective motor control. We have studied the striatal interneurons containing parvalbumin in a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newborn rats received ethanol by inhalation from postnatal day two through six and parvalbumin striatal neurons were labeled by immunohistochemistry on postnatal day 60. The spatial distribution of parvalbumin interneurons was studied using Voronoi spatial tessellation and their dendritic trees were completely reconstructed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parvalbumin interneurons of ethanol-treated animals showed a clustered spatial distribution similar to that observed in control animals. The dendritic tree of parvalbumin interneurons was significantly reduced in ethanol-treated animals, as compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Striatal parvalbumin interneurons are crucial components of the brain network serving motor control. Therefore, the shrinkage of their dendrites could contribute to the motor and cognitive symptoms observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Catholic University, L,go A, Gemelli 1, Milan 20123, Italy. alberto.granato@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Comparini
authors.forename: Francesca Sangiuliano
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Intra
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granato