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NGF and BDNF Alterations by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Valentina Carito1, Mauro Ceccanti2, Giampiero Ferraguti3
1Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology (IBCN-CNR), Rome, Italy.
Current Neuropharmacology
|August 30, 2017
Summary
Paternal and maternal alcohol exposure negatively impacts neurotrophins, crucial for nervous system development, leading to cognitive deficits in newborns. Antioxidant therapies may offer prevention against these harmful effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure is known to cause significant cognitive and neurobiological deficits in newborns.
- While maternal alcohol use effects are well-documented, paternal alcohol consumption prior to conception is gaining attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the effects of paternal and maternal alcohol exposure on neurotrophin signaling pathways.
- To highlight the role of neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in alcohol-induced developmental defects.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature.
- Inclusion of experimental data from the authors' laboratory.
Main Results:
- Both paternal and maternal alcohol exposure affect neurotrophin signaling pathways in the brain and other organs.
- Changes in NGF and BDNF contribute to alcohol's short- and long-lasting effects, including neuronal cell death and severe cognitive deficits.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol exposure, from either parent, can lead to neurotrophin alterations impacting offspring development.
- Antioxidant therapies are proposed as a potential preventive strategy against alcohol's harmful effects on fetal development.
