title: The Effects of Ethanol Exposure During Distinct Periods of Brain Development on Oxidative Stress in the Adult Rat Brain.
abstract: The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can result in abnormal fetal development and impaired brain function in humans and experimental animal models. Depending on the pattern of consumption, the dose, and the period of exposure to ethanol (EtOH), a variety of structural and functional brain deficits can be observed.
  
  
  
  This study compared the effects of EtOH exposure during distinct periods of brain development on oxidative damage and endogenous antioxidant status in various brain regions of adult female and male Sprague Dawley rats. Pregnant dams and neonatal rats were exposed to EtOH during one of the following time windows: between gestational days (GDs) 1 and 10 (first trimester equivalent); between GDs 11 and 21 (second trimester equivalent); or between postnatal days (PNDs) 4 and 10 (third trimester equivalent).
  
  
  
  EtOH exposure during any of the 3 trimester equivalents significantly increased lipid peroxidation in both the cornus ammonis (CA) and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampus, while also decreasing the levels of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione in the hippocampal CA and DG subregions as well as the prefrontal cortex of young adult animals (PND 60).
  
  
  
  These results indicate that EtOH exposure during restricted periods of brain development can have long-term consequences in the adult brain by dysregulating its redox status. This dysfunction may underlie, at least in part, the long-term alterations in brain function associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.|Department of Morphological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1680-5909
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Brocardo
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil-Mohapel
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wortman
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McGinnis
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences and UBC Island Medical Program , University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Christie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Brain Development; Ethanol; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Glutathione; Oxidative Stress