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Lactational ethanol exposure: brain enzymes and [3H]spiroperidol binding
F E Lancaster1, P F Selvanayagam, L L Hsu
1Biology Department of Texas Woman's University, Houston 77030.
Summary
Alcohol consumption during lactation alters offspring brain development. Ethanol exposure impacts dopaminergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic systems in the corpus striatum, potentially causing hyperactivity and motor control issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation can impact fetal and infant brain development.
- The corpus striatum is a critical brain region involved in motor control and reward pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ethanol exposure via maternal milk on the developing corpus striatum in Long-Evans rat offspring.
- To assess the impact on key neurotransmitter system activities during critical developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Lactating rats were fed a liquid diet with 27% calories from ethanol.
- Offspring brains were analyzed at postnatal days 16, 21, and 30.
- Assays included choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase activity, and [3H]spiroperidol binding.
Main Results:
- At day 21, pair-fed offspring showed increased glutamic acid decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase activity.
- By day 30, ethanol-exposed offspring exhibited higher choline acetyltransferase and [3H]spiroperidol binding activity compared to controls.
- Glutamic acid decarboxylase activity was also elevated in ethanol-exposed offspring at day 30.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt has toxic effects on the late development of dopaminergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic systems in the corpus striatum.
- These neurochemical alterations may correlate with clinical symptoms like hyperactivity and motor control deficits observed in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.