title: Moderate-level prenatal alcohol exposure induces sex differences in dopamine d1 receptor binding in adult rhesus monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the effects of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and/or prenatal stress exposure on (D1 R) binding in a non human primate model. The dopamine D1 R is involved in executive function, and it may play a role in cognitive behavioral deficits associated with prenatal alcohol and/or stress exposure. Little is known, however, about the effects of prenatal alcohol and/or stress exposure on the D1 R. We expected that prenatal insults would lead to alterations in D1 R binding in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rhesus macaque females were randomly assigned to moderate alcohol exposure and/or mild prenatal stress as well as a control condition during pregnancy. Thirty-eight offspring were raised identically and studied as adults by noninvasive in vivo neuroimaging using positron emission tomography with the D1 antagonist radiotracer [(11) C]SCH 23390. Radiotracer binding in PFC and striatum was evaluated by 2 (alcohol) × 2 (stress) × 2 (sex) analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In PFC, a significant alcohol × sex interaction was observed with prenatal alcohol exposure leading to increased [(11) C]SCH 23390 binding in male monkeys. No main effect of prenatal alcohol or prenatal stress exposure was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure results in long-term increases in prefrontal dopamine D1 R binding in males. This may help explain gender differences in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders consequent to prenatal alcohol exposure.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Converse
authors.forename: Colleen F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Elizabeth O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ahlers
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moirano
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.forename: Onofre T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: DeJesus
authors.forename: Todd E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Barnhart
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nickles
authors.forename: Dhanabalan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.forename: Bradley T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1
keywords: Dopamine D1 Receptor; Prenatal Alcohol; Prenatal Stress; Rhesus Macaque; Sex Differences