Effects of Ethanol Exposure during Distinct Periods of Brain Development on Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity
Date
2013
Authors
Patten, Anna R.
Gil-Mohapel, Joana
Wortman, Ryan C.
Noonan, Athena
Brocardo, Patricia S.
Christie, Brian R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Brain Sciences
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders occur when a mother drinks during pregnancy
and can greatly influence synaptic plasticity and cognition in the offspring. In this study we
determined whether there are periods during brain development that are more susceptible
to the effects of ethanol exposure on hippocampal synaptic plasticity. In particular, we
evaluated how the ability to elicit long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal dentate
gyrus (DG) was affected in young adult rats that were exposed to ethanol during either the
1st, 2nd, or 3rd trimester equivalent. As expected, the effects of ethanol on young adult DG
LTP were less severe when exposure was limited to a particular trimester equivalent when
compared to exposure throughout gestation. In males, ethanol exposure during the 1st, 2nd
or 3rd trimester equivalent did not significantly reduce LTP in the DG. In females, ethanol
exposure during either the 1st or 2nd trimester equivalents did not impact LTP in early
adulthood, but following exposure during the 3rd trimester equivalent alone, LTP was
significantly increased in the female DG. These results further exemplify the disparate
effects between the ability to elicit LTP in the male and female brain following perinatal
ethanol exposure (PNEE).
Description
Keywords
dentate gyrus, ethanol, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, hippocampus, long-term potentiation, synaptic plasticity, vulnerability period
Citation
Patten, A. R., Gil-Mohapel, J., Wortman, R. C., Noonan, A., Brocardo, P. S., & Christie, B. R. (2013). Effects of Ethanol Exposure during Distinct Periods of Brain Development on Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity. Brain Sciences, 3(3), 1076-1094. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci3031076.