title: Reduction of Nfia gene expression and subsequent target genes by binge alcohol in the fetal brain.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in gene expression in the fetal brain (forebrain and hippocampus) caused by maternal binge alcohol consumption. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were treated intragastrically with distilled phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or ethanol (2.9 g/kg) from embryonic day (ED) 8-12. Microarray analysis revealed that a significant number of genes were altered at ED 18 in the developing brain. Specifically, in hippocampus, nuclear factor one alpha (Nfia) and three N-methyl-D-aspartate (Nmda) receptors (Nmdar1, Nmdar2b, and Nmdar2d) were down-regulated. The transcription factor Nfia controls gliogenesis, cell proliferation and Nmda-induced neuronal survival by regulating the expression of target genes. Some of the Nfia-target gene (Aldh1a, Folh1, Gjb6, Fgf1, Neurod1, Sept4, and Ntsr2) expressions were also altered as expected. These results suggest that the altered expression of Nfia and Nmda receptors may be associated with the etiology of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The data presented in this report will contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the effects of alcohol in FASD individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chanchal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyemyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea; Department of Nanobiotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Il Yup
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ihn Geun
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea; Institute of Natural Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: khjung2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyoung Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea; Department of Nanobiotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ygchai@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D051839:NFI Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D051839:NFI Transcription Factors; C497646:Nfia protein, mouse
keywords: FASD; Hippocampus; Maternal alcohol consumption; Microarray analysis