Abnormal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Placental Insufficiency in a Preclinical Model

Zarena M Dominguez ¹, Suzy Davies ¹, Yousuf Amer ¹

⁰Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Developmental Neuroscience +

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November 14, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Prenatal alcohol exposure combined with placental insufficiency significantly alters brain microstructure in rat offspring. The striatum showed greater vulnerability to injury compared to the prefrontal cortex.

Area Of Science

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Radiology

Background

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and placental insufficiency (PI) increase preterm birth risk and can worsen neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Combined PAE and PI may exacerbate brain injury in infants.
This study investigates the microstructural brain effects of combined PAE and PI.

Purpose Of The Study

To examine the impact of PAE and PI on brain microstructure in specific regions.
To investigate the effects on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum, and corpus callosum.
To understand how these insults affect brain regions crucial for executive functions.

Main Methods

Utilized a rat model to mimic moderate PAE and PI.
Assessed brain microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) ex vivo.
Analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) and directional diffusion in key brain regions.

Main Results

Significant alterations in FA, mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were observed in the medial and lateral PFC.
The striatum showed increased axial diffusivity (AD), RD, and MD in the PAE group and decreased values in the PI group.
The corpus callosum exhibited a significant decrease in AD in the PAE+PI group.

Conclusions

All investigated brain regions were impacted by prenatal insults.
The striatum appears more vulnerable to injury than the PFC.
Further research is needed to determine the functional consequences of these microstructural changes.

Keywords:

Magnetic resonance imaging Medial prefrontal cortex Myelination Placental insufficiency Prenatal alcohol exposure