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Behavioral and neurochemical effects on rat offspring after prenatal exposure to ethanol
Lyvia M V Carneiro1, João Paulo L Diógenes, Silvania M M Vasconcelos
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1127, Fortaleza 60430-270, Brazil.
Insights
Prenatal ethanol exposure in rats led to reduced anxiety but increased depression-like behaviors and altered neurochemical systems, impacting brain development long-term.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy can impact fetal development.
- Understanding the long-term neurobehavioral and neurochemical consequences of prenatal ethanol exposure is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on behavioral and neurochemical alterations in offspring.
- To assess the impact on locomotion, anxiety, and depression-related behaviors.
- To examine changes in dopaminergic and muscarinic receptor binding in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were administered ethanol daily before mating and throughout gestation and lactation.
- Offspring were assessed using open field, elevated plus maze, and forced swimming tests.
- Dopaminergic (D1, D2) and muscarinic (M1, M2) receptor binding assays were performed on brain tissue.
Main Results:
- Prenatal ethanol exposure resulted in anxiolytic effects (increased open arm exploration) but also increased immobility in the forced swimming test (despair behavior).
- Locomotor activity, rearing, and grooming behaviors were reduced in ethanol-exposed offspring.
- Significant decreases in hippocampal and striatal dopaminergic receptor binding and increases in muscarinic receptor binding were observed.
Conclusions:
- In utero ethanol exposure induces lasting behavioral and neurochemical changes.
- These alterations in brain systems may have significant implications for adult neurochemical and behavioral responses.
- Prenatal ethanol exposure poses a risk for long-term neurodevelopmental deficits.
Abstract:
The work studied behavioral and neurochemical alterations in 21-day-old pups, from both sexes (26 g on average) born from female Wistar rats administered daily with ethanol (0.5 or 4.0 g/kg, p.o.), for 30 days before mating, and throughout their gestational period. Ethanol administration continued from delivery up to weaning. The open field, elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests were used to evaluate effects of ethanol on locomotion, anxiety and depression, respectively. Binding assays were used to identify dopaminergic (D1- and D2-like) and muscarinic (M1 plus M2) receptors. Results of the plus maze test indicated significant and dose-dependent increases in the number of entrances in the open arms and in the time of permanence in the open arms, in the prenatally ethanol-exposed offspring, as compared to controls, indicating an anxiolytic effect. In the open field test, this group presented decreases in spontaneous locomotor activity as well as in the occurrences of rearing and grooming. Offspring also showed dose-dependent increases in their immobility time in the forced swimming test, characterizing despair behavior. Decreases in the hippocampal (D2: 32%; D1: 25%) and striatal (D2: 30%; D1: 52%) dopaminergic binding were detected in ethanol-exposed offspring. On the other hand, significant increases were observed in muscarinic binding in the hippocampus (40%) as well as in the striatum (42%). This study shows evidence that in utero ethanol exposure produces a long-lasting effect on development and pharmacological characteristics of brain systems that may have important implications in behavioral and neurochemical responsiveness occurring in adulthood.
