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Choline Ameliorates Deficits in Balance Caused by Acute Neonatal Ethanol Exposure

Cynthia F Bearer1, Kristen A Wellmann, Ningfeng Tang

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St., BRB 13-041, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.

Cerebellum (London, England)
|June 19, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Choline supplementation before alcohol exposure improved balance and coordination in mice, suggesting it may mitigate fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) effects. This nutrient

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) affects 1% of live births, with the cerebellum being particularly vulnerable to alcohol's toxic effects.
  • Alcohol-induced cerebellar injury in FASD leads to hypoplasia and developmental deficits.
  • Choline is essential, yet many US diets are deficient, and its protective effects against alcohol-induced neurobehavioral deficits are incomplete, especially for cerebellar function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if choline supplementation *prior* to alcohol exposure can prevent or reduce ethanol's impact on cerebellar-associated balance and coordination in mice.
  • To determine the efficacy of choline in ameliorating alcohol-induced deficits in a cerebellar-dependent behavioral test.

Main Methods:

  • Pregnant mice were fed a choline-deficient diet.
  • Postnatal pups received choline or saline pre-treatment (P1-P5), followed by ethanol or Intralipid exposure (P5).
  • Choline or saline post-treatment was administered (P6-P20), and balance/coordination were assessed using the dowel crossing test at P30.

Main Results:

  • Ethanol exposure significantly impaired balance and coordination (reduced distance crossed).
  • Choline pre-treatment improved performance in males; both pre- and post-treatment with choline improved performance in females and males.
  • Choline had no effect on animals exposed to Intralipid, confirming its specific action against ethanol effects.

Conclusions:

  • Choline supplementation prior to alcohol exposure effectively ameliorates ethanol-induced deficits in balance and coordination in mice.
  • This study is the first to demonstrate choline's protective effects on cerebellar-associated behaviors when administered before alcohol exposure.
  • Fortifying common foods with choline could be a strategy to reduce the impact of alcohol on fetal development and prevent FASD-related neurological issues.

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