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Voluntary exercise influences behavioral development in rats exposed to alcohol during the neonatal brain growth
Jennifer D Thomas1, Tamie Miura Sather, Lynn A Whinery
1Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, CA, USA. thomas3@mail.sdsu.edu
Insights
Physical exercise may help mitigate behavioral problems in children with fetal alcohol effects. This study found exercise improved cognitive function and reduced hyperactivity in rats exposed to alcohol during development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause significant brain damage in children, leading to behavioral issues like hyperactivity and learning deficits.
- There is an urgent need for effective interventions to address the lasting effects of fetal alcohol exposure.
- Physical exercise is known to boost cognitive functions and promote neurogenesis, particularly in the hippocampus, which is crucial for learning and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if physical exercise can lessen the severity of behavioral problems caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.
- To determine the impact of exercise on cognitive performance and activity levels in an animal model of fetal alcohol effects.
Main Methods:
- Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ethanol during the equivalent of the third trimester of human pregnancy.
- Following early development, half of the ethanol-exposed and control rats were given access to running wheels for a period of voluntary exercise.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze, and activity levels were measured in an open field test.
Main Results:
- Rats exposed to ethanol prenatally showed significant impairments in the Morris water maze task.
- Physical exercise led to significant improvements in Morris water maze performance across all groups, including those exposed to alcohol.
- Ethanol-exposed rats exhibited hyperactivity in the open field test, which was reduced by exercise.
- Exercise appeared to enhance neuronal plasticity in both control and alcohol-exposed subjects.
Conclusions:
- Physical exercise may serve as a beneficial intervention for mitigating cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
- Exercise has the potential to promote neural plasticity, offering a therapeutic avenue for individuals affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- These findings highlight the role of physical activity in supporting brain recovery and adaptation following developmental alcohol exposure.
Abstract:
Children exposed to alcohol prenatally may suffer from severe brain damage, expressed as a variety of behavioral problems, including hyperactivity and learning deficits. There is a critical need to identify effective treatments for fetal alcohol effects. Physical exercise enhances cognitive ability and increases neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a brain area important for learning and memory. Thus, the present study examined whether physical exercise might reduce the severity of alcohol-induced behavioral alterations. Sprague-Dawley rats were intubated with 5.25 g/kg/day ethanol during the third trimester equivalent (postnatal days [PDs] 4-9). Intubated sham control and nontreated controls were included. From PD 21 to PD 51, half of the subjects were given access to running wheels. On PD 52, subjects were tested on the Morris water maze, and on PD 60, open field activity levels were measured. Morris maze performance was significantly impaired among ethanol-exposed subjects; exercise significantly improved performance of all groups. Similarly, ethanol-exposed subjects were overactive in the open field, an effect attenuated with exercise. In sum, these data suggest that exercise may increase neuronal plasticity not only in controls, but also in subjects exposed to alcohol during development.
