1
|
Król M, Skowron P, Skowron K, Gil K. The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders-An Overview of Experimental Models, Therapeutic Strategies, and Future Research Directions. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:531. [PMID: 38790526 PMCID: PMC11120554 DOI: 10.3390/children11050531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Since the establishment of a clear link between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and certain birth defects, the research into the treatment of FASD has become increasingly sophisticated. The field has begun to explore the possibility of intervening at different levels, and animal studies have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease, forming the basis for implementing potential therapies with increasingly precise mechanisms. The recent reports suggest that compounds that reduce the severity of neurodevelopmental deficits, including glial cell function and myelination, and/or target oxidative stress and inflammation may be effective in treating FASD. Our goal in writing this article was to analyze and synthesize current experimental therapeutic interventions for FASD, elucidating their potential mechanisms of action, translational relevance, and implications for clinical application. This review exclusively focuses on animal models and the interventions used in these models to outline the current direction of research. We conclude that given the complexity of the underlying mechanisms, a multifactorial approach combining nutritional supplementation, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral techniques tailored to the stage and severity of the disease may be a promising avenue for further research in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Król
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta St. 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland; (M.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Paweł Skowron
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Wroclaw Medical University, T. Chalubinskiego St. 10, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Kamil Skowron
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta St. 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland; (M.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Krzysztof Gil
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta St. 18, 31-121 Krakow, Poland; (M.K.); (K.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Campbell TS, Donoghue K, Roth TL. Unlocking the epigenome: Stress and exercise induced Bdnf regulation in the prefrontal cortex. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2024; 103:107353. [PMID: 38648864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Aversive caregiving in early life is a risk factor for aberrant brain and behavioral development. This outcome is related to epigenetic dysregulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene. The Bdnf gene encodes for BDNF, a neurotrophin involved in early brain development, neural plasticity, learning, and memory. Recent work suggests that exercise may be neuroprotective in part by supporting BDNF protein and gene expression, making it an exciting target for therapeutic interventions. To our knowledge, exercise has never been studied as a therapeutic intervention in preclinical rodent models of caregiver maltreatment. To that end, the current study investigated the effect of an adult voluntary wheel running intervention on Bdnf methylation and expression in the prefrontal cortex of rats who experienced aversive caregiving in infancy. We employed a rodent model (Long Evans rats) wherein rat pups experienced intermittent caregiver-induced stress from postnatal days 1-7 and were given voluntary access to a running wheel (except in the control condition) from postnatal days 70-90 as a young adulthood treatment intervention. Our results indicate that maltreatment and exercise affect Bdnf gene methylation in an exon, CG site, and sex-specific manner. Here we add to a growing body of evidence of the ability for our experiences, including exercise, to permeate the brain. Keywords: Early life stress, Bdnf, exercise, prefrontal cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor S Campbell
- University of Delaware, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Newark, DE 19716, United States of America.
| | - Katelyn Donoghue
- University of Delaware, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Newark, DE 19716, United States of America
| | - Tania L Roth
- University of Delaware, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Newark, DE 19716, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Treble-Barna A, Petersen BA, Stec Z, Conley YP, Fink EL, Kochanek PM. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury and Recovery. Biomolecules 2024; 14:191. [PMID: 38397427 PMCID: PMC10886547 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We review emerging preclinical and clinical evidence regarding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein, genotype, and DNA methylation (DNAm) as biomarkers of outcomes in three important etiologies of pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI), traumatic brain injury, global cerebral ischemia, and stroke. We also summarize evidence suggesting that BDNF is (1) involved in the biological embedding of the psychosocial environment, (2) responsive to rehabilitative therapies, and (3) potentially modifiable. BDNF's unique potential as a biomarker of neuroplasticity and neural repair that is reflective of and responsive to both pre- and post-injury environmental influences separates it from traditional protein biomarkers of structural brain injury with exciting potential to advance pediatric ABI management by increasing the accuracy of prognostic tools and informing clinical decision making through the monitoring of therapeutic effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amery Treble-Barna
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.A.P.); (Z.S.)
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (E.L.F.); (P.M.K.)
| | - Bailey A. Petersen
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.A.P.); (Z.S.)
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (E.L.F.); (P.M.K.)
| | - Zachary Stec
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.A.P.); (Z.S.)
| | - Yvette P. Conley
- Department of Health Promotion & Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Ericka L. Fink
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (E.L.F.); (P.M.K.)
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Patrick M. Kochanek
- Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (E.L.F.); (P.M.K.)
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zheng Q, Wang H, Yan A, Yin F, Qiao X. DNA Methylation in Alcohol Use Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10130. [PMID: 37373281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive drinking damages the central nervous system of individuals and can even cause alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is regulated by both genetic and environmental factors. Genes determine susceptibility to alcohol, and the dysregulation of epigenome drives the abnormal transcription program and promotes the occurrence and development of AUD. DNA methylation is one of the earliest and most widely studied epigenetic mechanisms that can be inherited stably. In ontogeny, DNA methylation pattern is a dynamic process, showing differences and characteristics at different stages. DNA dysmethylation is prevalent in human cancer and alcohol-related psychiatric disorders, resulting in local hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing of related genes. Here, we summarize recent findings on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation, the development of methyltransferase inhibitors, methylation alteration during alcohol exposure at different stages of life, and possible therapeutic options for targeting methylation in human and animal studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingmeng Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - An Yan
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Fangyuan Yin
- School of Medicine, College of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xiaomeng Qiao
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Milbocker KA, Smith IF, Brengel EK, LeBlanc GL, Roth TL, Klintsova AY. Exercise in Adolescence Enhances Callosal White Matter Refinement in the Female Brain in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Cells 2023; 12:cells12070975. [PMID: 37048047 PMCID: PMC10092997 DOI: 10.3390/cells12070975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A total of 1 in 20 infants born annually are exposed to alcohol prenatally, which disrupts neurodevelopment and results in several disorders categorized under the umbrella term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Children and adolescents affected by FASD exhibit delayed maturation of cerebral white matter, which contributes to deficits in executive function, visuospatial processing, sensory integration, and interhemispheric communication. Research using animal models of FASD have uncovered that oligoglia proliferation, differentiation, and survival are vulnerable to alcohol teratogenesis in the male brain due in part to the activation of the neuroimmune system during gestation and infancy. A comprehensive investigation of prenatal alcohol exposure on white matter development in the female brain is limited. This study demonstrated that the number of mature oligodendrocytes and the production of myelin basic protein were reduced first in the female corpus callosum following alcohol exposure in a rat model of FASD. Analysis of myelin-related genes confirmed that myelination occurs earlier in the female corpus callosum compared to their counterparts, irrespective of postnatal treatment. Moreover, dysregulated oligodendrocyte number and myelin basic protein production was observed in the male and female FASD brain in adolescence. Targeted interventions that support white matter development in FASD-affected youth are nonexistent. The capacity for an adolescent exercise intervention to upregulate corpus callosum myelination was evaluated: we discovered that volunteer exercise increases the number of mature oligodendrocytes in alcohol-exposed female rats. This study provides critical evidence that oligoglia differentiation is difficult but not impossible to induce in the female FASD brain in adolescence following a behavioral intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Ian F Smith
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Eric K Brengel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Gillian L LeBlanc
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Tania L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baker JA, Bodnar TS, Breit KR, Weinberg J, Thomas JD. Choline Supplementation Alters Hippocampal Cytokine Levels in Adolescence and Adulthood in an Animal Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Cells 2023; 12:546. [PMID: 36831213 PMCID: PMC9953782 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol) exposure during pregnancy can adversely affect development, with long-lasting consequences that include neuroimmune, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction. Alcohol-induced alterations in cytokine levels in the hippocampus may contribute to abnormal cognitive and behavioral outcomes in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Nutritional intervention with the essential nutrient choline can improve hippocampal-dependent behavioral impairments and may also influence neuroimmune function. Thus, we examined the effects of choline supplementation on hippocampal cytokine levels in adolescent and adult rats exposed to alcohol early in development. From postnatal day (PD) 4-9 (third trimester-equivalent), Sprague-Dawley rat pups received ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) or sham intubations and were treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) or saline from PD 10-30; hippocampi were collected at PD 35 or PD 60. Age-specific ethanol-induced increases in interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth-regulated oncogene (KC/GRO) were identified in adulthood, but not adolescence, whereas persistent ethanol-induced increases of interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were present at both ages. Interestingly, choline supplementation reduced age-related changes in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) as well as mitigating the long-lasting increase in IFN-γ in ethanol-exposed adults. Moreover, choline influenced inflammatory tone by modulating ratios of pro- to -anti-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that ethanol-induced changes in hippocampal cytokine levels are more evident during adulthood than adolescence, and that choline can mitigate some effects of ethanol exposure on long-lasting inflammatory tone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Baker
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Tamara S. Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kristen R. Breit
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Early Life Stress Affects Bdnf Regulation: A Role for Exercise Interventions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911729. [PMID: 36233029 PMCID: PMC9569911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) encompasses exposure to aversive experiences during early development, such as neglect or maltreatment. Animal and human studies indicate that ELS has maladaptive effects on brain development, leaving individuals more vulnerable to developing behavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. This result occurs in part to disruptions in Brain derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) gene regulation, which plays a vital role in early neural programming and brain health in adulthood. A potential treatment mechanism to reverse the effects of ELS on Bdnf expression is aerobic exercise due to its neuroprotective properties and positive impact on Bdnf expression. Aerobic exercise opens the door to exciting and novel potential treatment strategies because it is a behavioral intervention readily and freely available to the public. In this review, we discuss the current literature investigating the use of exercise interventions in animal models of ELS to reverse or mitigate ELS-induced changes in Bdnf expression. We also encourage future studies to investigate sensitive periods of exercise exposure, as well as sufficient duration of exposure, on epigenetic and behavioral outcomes to help lead to standardized practices in the exercise intervention field.
Collapse
|
8
|
Luft C, da Costa MS, Antunes GL, de Oliveira JR, Donadio MVF. The role of maternal exercise on placental, behavioral and genetic alterations induced by prenatal stress. Neurochem Int 2022; 158:105384. [PMID: 35787396 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of treadmill maternal exercise on alterations induced by prenatal stress in neonatal mice. Female and male Balb/c mice were divided into five groups: control (CON), prenatal restraint stress (PNS), prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise before pregnancy (PNS + EX1), prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise during pregnancy (PNS + EX2), and prenatal restraint stress and physical exercise before and during pregnancy (PNS + EX3). Exercise was performed using a treadmill, at a speed of 10 m/min, for 60 minutes, 5 days a week. Maternal behavior was assessed on days 3, 4 and 5 postpartum (PPD). Placental gene expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (5HT1AR), and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) were analyzed. In neonatal mice, the gene expression of GR, mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), CRHR1, 5HTr1, oxytocin Receptor 1 (OXTr1), tropomyosin related kinase B (TRκB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor exon I (BDNF I), and BDNF IV was analyzed in the brain (PND0) and hippocampus (PND10). Maternal exercise improved (p < 0.05) maternal care. In the placenta, maternal exercise prevented (p < 0.01) the increase in GR expression caused by PNS. In the brain from PND0, exercise before pregnancy prevented (p = 0.002) the decreased CRHR1 expression promoted by PNS. In the hippocampus of PND10 males, PNS decreased (p = 0.0005) GR expression, and exercise before pregnancy prevented (p = 0.003) this effect. In PND10 females, maternal exercise prevented (p < 0.05) the PNS-induced increase in MR expression. PNS + EX2 males showed increased (p < 0.01) BDNF I gene expression and PNS + EX1 females demonstrated increased (p = 0.03) BDNF IV expression. In conclusion, maternal physical exercise may play a role in modulating maternal-fetal health and may contribute to preventing neurodevelopmental changes induced by prenatal stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Luft
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity, Infant Center, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mariana Severo da Costa
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity, Infant Center, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Géssica Luana Antunes
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jarbas Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Márcio Vinícius Fagundes Donadio
- Laboratory of Pediatric Physical Activity, Infant Center, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics and Inflammation, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Department of Physiotherapy, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Reduced and delayed myelination and volume of corpus callosum in an animal model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders partially benefit from voluntary exercise. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10653. [PMID: 35739222 PMCID: PMC9226126 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14752-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
1 in 20 live births in the United States is affected by prenatal alcohol exposure annually, creating a major public health crisis. The teratogenic impact of alcohol on physical growth, neurodevelopment, and behavior is extensive, together resulting in clinical disorders which fall under the umbrella term of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD-related impairments to executive function and perceptual learning are prevalent among affected youth and are linked to disruptions to corpus callosum growth and myelination in adolescence. Targeted interventions that support neurodevelopment in FASD-affected youth are nonexistent. We evaluated the capacity of an adolescent exercise intervention, a stimulator of myelinogenesis, to upregulate corpus callosum myelination in a rat model of FASD (third trimester-equivalent alcohol exposure). This study employs in vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scanning to investigate the effects of: (1) neonatal alcohol exposure and (2) an adolescent exercise intervention on corpus callosum myelination in a rodent model of FASD. DTI scans were acquired twice longitudinally (pre- and post-intervention) in male and female rats using a 9.4 Tesla Bruker Biospec scanner to assess alterations to corpus callosum myelination noninvasively. Fractional anisotropy values as well as radial/axial diffusivity values were compared within-animal in a longitudinal study design. Analyses using mixed repeated measures ANOVA’s confirm that neonatal alcohol exposure in a rodent model of FASD delays the trajectory of corpus callosum growth and myelination across adolescence, with a heightened vulnerability in the male brain. Alterations to corpus callosum volume are correlated with reductions to forebrain volume which mediates an indirect relationship between body weight gain and corpus callosum growth. While we did not observe any significant effects of voluntary aerobic exercise on corpus callosum myelination immediately after completion of the 12-day intervention, we did observe a beneficial effect of exercise intervention on corpus callosum volume growth in all rats. In line with clinical findings, we have shown that prenatal alcohol exposure leads to hypomyelination of the corpus callosum in adolescence and that the severity of damage is sexually dimorphic. Further, exercise intervention improves corpus callosum growth in alcohol-exposed and control rats in adolescence.
Collapse
|
10
|
Grafe EL, Wade MMM, Hodson CE, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Postnatal Choline Supplementation Rescues Deficits in Synaptic Plasticity Following Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. Nutrients 2022; 14:2004. [PMID: 35631142 PMCID: PMC9146219 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental impairments, yet treatments for individuals with PNEE are limited. Importantly, postnatal supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can attenuate some adverse effects of PNEE on cognitive development; however, the mechanisms of action for choline supplementation remain unclear. This study used an animal model to determine if choline supplementation could restore hippocampal synaptic plasticity that is normally impaired by prenatal alcohol. Throughout gestation, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were fed an ethanol liquid diet (35.5% ethanol-derived calories). Offspring were injected with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) from postnatal days (PD) 10-30, and then used for in vitro electrophysiology experiments as juveniles (PD 31-35). High-frequency conditioning stimuli were used to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial perforant path input to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. PNEE altered synaptic transmission in female offspring by increasing excitability, an effect that was mitigated with choline supplementation. In contrast, PNEE juvenile males had decreased LTP compared to controls, and this was rescued by choline supplementation. These data demonstrate sex-specific changes in plasticity following PNEE, and provide evidence that choline-related improvements in cognitive functioning may be due to its positive impact on hippocampal synaptic physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Grafe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Mira M. M. Wade
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Claire E. Hodson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Brian R. Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Milbocker KA, Campbell TS, Collins N, Kim S, Smith IF, Roth TL, Klintsova AY. Glia-Driven Brain Circuit Refinement Is Altered by Early-Life Adversity: Behavioral Outcomes. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:786234. [PMID: 34924972 PMCID: PMC8678604 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.786234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity (ELA), often clinically referred to as "adverse childhood experiences (ACE)," is the exposure to stress-inducing events in childhood that can result in poor health outcomes. ELA negatively affects neurodevelopment in children and adolescents resulting in several behavioral deficits and increasing the risk of developing a myriad of neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. The neurobiological mechanisms by which ELA alters neurodevelopment in childhood have been the focus of numerous reviews. However, a comprehensive review of the mechanisms affecting adolescent neurodevelopment (i.e., synaptic pruning and myelination) is lacking. Synaptic pruning and myelination are glia-driven processes that are imperative for brain circuit refinement during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Failure to optimize brain circuitry between key brain structures involved in learning and memory, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, leads to the emergence of maladaptive behaviors including increased anxiety or reduced executive function. As such, we review preclinical and clinical literature to explore the immediate and lasting effects of ELA on brain circuit development and refinement. Finally, we describe a number of therapeutic interventions best-suited to support adolescent neurodevelopment in children with a history of ELA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anna Y. Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Loke YJ, Muggli E, Saffery R, Ryan J, Lewis S, Elliott EJ, Halliday J, Craig JM. Sex- and tissue-specific effects of binge-level prenatal alcohol consumption on DNA methylation at birth. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1921-1938. [PMID: 34841896 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Binge-level prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes developmental abnormalities, which may be mediated in part by epigenetic mechanisms. Despite this, few studies have characterised the association of binge PAE with DNA methylation in offspring. Methods: We investigated the association between binge PAE and genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in a sex-specific manner in neonatal buccal and placental samples. Results: We identified no differentially methylated CpGs or differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at false discovery rate <0.05. However, using a sum-of-ranks approach, we identified a DMR in each tissue of female offspring. The DMR identified in buccal samples is located near regions with previously-reported associations to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and binge PAE. Conclusion: Our findings warrant further replication and highlight a potential epigenetic link between binge PAE and FASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuk Jing Loke
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Evelyne Muggli
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Reproductive Epidemiology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Joanne Ryan
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Biological Neuropsychiatry & Dementia Unit, School of Public Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Sharon Lewis
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Reproductive Epidemiology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- Specialty of Child & Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.,The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, NSW, 2045, Australia
| | - Jane Halliday
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,Reproductive Epidemiology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Jeffrey M Craig
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.,The Institute of Mental & Physical Health & Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Savage LM, Nunes PT, Gursky ZH, Milbocker KA, Klintsova AY. Midline Thalamic Damage Associated with Alcohol-Use Disorders: Disruption of Distinct Thalamocortical Pathways and Function. Neuropsychol Rev 2021; 31:447-471. [PMID: 32789537 PMCID: PMC7878584 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09450-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus, a significant part of the diencephalon, is a symmetrical and bilateral central brain structure. The thalamus is subdivided into three major groups of nuclei based on their function: sensorimotor nuclei (or principal/relay nuclei), limbic nuclei and nuclei bridging these two domains. Anatomically, nuclei within the thalamus are described by their location, such as anterior, medial, lateral, ventral, and posterior. In this review, we summarize the role of medial and midline thalamus in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaptation. We focus on the discoveries in animal models of alcohol-related brain damage, which identify the loss of neurons in the medial and midline thalamus as drivers of cognitive dysfunction associated with alcohol use disorders. Models of developmental ethanol exposure and models of adult alcohol-related brain damage and are compared and contrasted, and it was revealed that there are similar (anterior thalamus) and different (intralaminar [adult exposure] versus ventral midline [developmental exposure]) thalamic pathology, as well as disruptions of thalamo-hippocampal and thalamo-cortical circuits. The final part of the review summarizes approaches to recover alcohol-related brain damage and cognitive and behavioral outcomes. These approaches include pharmacological, nutritional and behavioral interventions that demonstrated the potential to mitigate alcohol-related damage. In summary, the medial/midline thalamus is a significant contributor to cognition function, which is also sensitive to alcohol-related brain damage across the life span, and plays a role in alcohol-related cognitive dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Savage
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
| | - Polliana T Nunes
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Zachary H Gursky
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Xu M, Zhu J, Liu XD, Luo MY, Xu NJ. Roles of physical exercise in neurodegeneration: reversal of epigenetic clock. Transl Neurodegener 2021; 10:30. [PMID: 34389067 PMCID: PMC8361623 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-021-00254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic clock is defined by the DNA methylation (DNAm) level and has been extensively applied to distinguish biological age from chronological age. Aging-related neurodegeneration is associated with epigenetic alteration, which determines the status of diseases. In recent years, extensive research has shown that physical exercise (PE) can affect the DNAm level, implying a reversal of the epigenetic clock in neurodegeneration. PE also regulates brain plasticity, neuroinflammation, and molecular signaling cascades associated with epigenetics. This review summarizes the effects of PE on neurodegenerative diseases via both general and disease-specific DNAm mechanisms, and discusses epigenetic modifications that alleviate the pathological symptoms of these diseases. This may lead to probing of the underpinnings of neurodegenerative disorders and provide valuable therapeutic references for cognitive and motor dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - JiaYi Zhu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xian-Dong Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ming-Ying Luo
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Nan-Jie Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Alberry B, Laufer BI, Chater-Diehl E, Singh SM. Epigenetic Impacts of Early Life Stress in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Shape the Neurodevelopmental Continuum. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:671891. [PMID: 34149355 PMCID: PMC8209299 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.671891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopment in humans is a long, elaborate, and highly coordinated process involving three trimesters of prenatal development followed by decades of postnatal development and maturation. Throughout this period, the brain is highly sensitive and responsive to the external environment, which may provide a range of inputs leading to positive or negative outcomes. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) result from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Although the molecular mechanisms of FASD are not fully characterized, they involve alterations to the regulation of gene expression via epigenetic marks. As in the prenatal stages, the postnatal period of neurodevelopment is also sensitive to environmental inputs. Often this sensitivity is reflected in children facing adverse conditions, such as maternal separation. This exposure to early life stress (ELS) is implicated in the manifestation of various behavioral abnormalities. Most FASD research has focused exclusively on the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure in isolation. Here, we review the research into the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure and ELS, with a focus on the continuum of epigenomic and transcriptomic alterations. Interestingly, a select few experiments have assessed the cumulative effect of prenatal alcohol and postnatal maternal separation stress. Regulatory regions of different sets of genes are affected by both treatments independently, and a unique set of genes are affected by the combination of treatments. Notably, epigenetic and gene expression changes converge at the clustered protocadherin locus and oxidative stress pathway. Functional studies using epigenetic editing may elucidate individual contributions of regulatory regions for hub genes and further profiling efforts may lead to the development of non-invasive methods to identify children at risk. Taken together, the results favor the potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes by epigenetic management of children born with FASD using favorable postnatal conditions with or without therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Alberry
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin I Laufer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Eric Chater-Diehl
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shiva M Singh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bianco CD, Hübner IC, Bennemann B, de Carvalho CR, Brocardo PS. Effects of postnatal ethanol exposure and maternal separation on mood, cognition and hippocampal arborization in adolescent rats. Behav Brain Res 2021; 411:113372. [PMID: 34022294 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol exposure and early life stress during brain development are associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. We used a third-trimester equivalent model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders combined with a maternal separation (MS) protocol to evaluate whether these stressors cause sexually dimorphic behavioral and hippocampal dendritic arborization responses in adolescent rats. Wistar rat pups were divided into four experimental groups: 1) Control; 2) MS (MS, for 3 h/day from postnatal (PND) 2 to PND14); 3) EtOH (EtOH, 5 g/kg/day, i.p., PND2, 4, 6, 8, and 10); 4) EtOH + MS. All animals were divided into two cohorts and subjected to a battery of behavioral tests when they reached adolescence (PND37-44). Animals from cohort 1 were submitted to: 1) the open field test; 2) self-cleaning behavior (PND38); and 3) the motivation test (PND39-41). Animals from cohort 2 were submitted to: 1) the novel object recognition (PND37-39); 2) social investigation test (PND40); and 3) Morris water maze test (PND41-44). At PND45, the animals were euthanized, and the brains were collected for subsequent dendritic analysis. Postnatal ethanol exposure (PEE) caused anxiety-like behavior in females and reduced motivation, and increased hippocampal dendritic arborization in both sexes. MS reduced body weight, increased locomotor activity in females, and increased motivation, and hippocampal dendritic arborization in both sexes. We found that males from the EtOH + MS groups are more socially engaged than females, who were more interested in sweets than males. Altogether, these data suggest that early life adverse conditions may alter behavior in a sex-dependent manner in adolescent rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Daniele Bianco
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Ian Carlos Hübner
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Bianca Bennemann
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Ribeiro de Carvalho
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Patricia S Brocardo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil; Department of Morphological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Milbocker KA, Klintsova AY. Examination of cortically projecting cholinergic neurons following exercise and environmental intervention in a rodent model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Birth Defects Res 2020; 113:299-313. [PMID: 33174398 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 1 in 5 infants in the United States are exposed to alcohol prenatally, resulting in neurodevelopmental deficits categorized as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Choline supplementation ameliorates some deficits, suggesting that alcohol exposure (AE) perturbs cholinergic neurotransmission and development. Behavioral interventions, which upregulate cholinergic neurotransmission, rescue cognitive deficits in rodent models of FASD. METHODS We investigated the impacts of two interventions (either wheel-running (WR) or "super intervention," WR plus exposure to a complex environment) on cholinergic neuronal morphology in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), the source of cortical cholinergic input, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in a rodent model of FASD. One third of the total 47 male pups received intragastric intubation of ethanol in milk substitute during postnatal days (PD) 4-9. Another third served as sham-intubated procedural controls while the final third served as suckle controls. Rats from each group were exposed to either intervention during PD 30-72. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT+ ) and acetylcholinesterase staining were used to quantify cholinergic neuron number, soma volume, and axon number. RESULTS Our data indicate a main effect of postnatal treatment on ChAT+ neuron number in NBM in adulthood. Post hoc analysis demonstrates that ChAT+ neuron number is reduced in AE compared to suckle control rodents (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS We examined the cytoarchitectonics of cholinergic neurons in NBM and PFC in adulthood following early postnatal AE and two interventions. We show that AE reduces ChAT+ neuron number in NBM, and this is not mitigated by either intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Pritchett-Corning KR. Environmental Complexity and Research Outcomes. ILAR J 2020; 60:239-251. [PMID: 32559304 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental complexity is an experimental paradigm as well as a potential part of animals' everyday housing experiences. In experimental uses, researchers add complexity to stimulate brain development, delay degenerative brain changes, elicit more naturalistic behaviors, and test learning and memory. Complexity can exacerbate or mitigate behavioral problems, give animals a sense of control, and allow for expression of highly driven, species-typical behaviors that can improve animal welfare. Complex environments should be designed thoughtfully with the animal's natural behaviors in mind, reported faithfully in the literature, and evaluated carefully for unexpected effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Pritchett-Corning
- Office of Animal Resources, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Post-exposure environment modulates long-term developmental ethanol effects on behavior, neuroanatomy, and cortical oscillations. Brain Res 2020; 1748:147128. [PMID: 32950485 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Developmental exposure to ethanol has a wide range of anatomical, cellular, physiological and behavioral impacts that can last throughout life. In humans, this cluster of effects is termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and is highly prevalent in western cultures. The ultimate expression of the effects of developmental ethanol exposure however can be influenced by post-exposure experience. Here we examined the effects of developmental binge exposure to ethanol (postnatal day 7) in C57BL/6By mice on a specific cohort of inter-related long-term outcomes including contextual memory, hippocampal parvalbumin-expressing neuron density, frontal cortex oscillations related to sleep-wake cycling including delta oscillation amplitude and sleep spindle density, and home-cage behavioral activity. When assessed in adults that were raised in standard housing, all of these factors were altered by early ethanol exposure compared to saline controls except home-cage activity. However, exposure to an enriched environment and exercise from weaning to postnatal day 90 reversed most of these ethanol-induced impairments including memory, CA1 but not dentate gyrus PV+ cell density, delta oscillations and sleep spindles, and enhanced home-cage behavioral activity in Saline- but not EtOH-treated mice. The results are discussed in terms of the inter-dependence of diverse developmental ethanol outcomes and potential mechanisms of post-exposure experiences to regulate those outcomes.
Collapse
|
20
|
Aghaie CI, Hausknecht KA, Wang R, Dezfuli PH, Haj-Dahmane S, Kane CJM, Sigurdson WJ, Shen RY. Prenatal Ethanol Exposure and Postnatal Environmental Intervention Alter Dopaminergic Neuron and Microglia Morphology in the Ventral Tegmental Area During Adulthood. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:435-444. [PMID: 31872887 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) impairs midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neuron function, which might contribute to various cognitive and behavioral deficits, including attention deficits and increased addiction risk, often observed in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Currently, the underlying mechanisms for PE-induced deficits are unclear. PE could lead to neuroinflammation by activating microglia, which play an important role in synaptic function. In the present study, we investigated PE effects on microglial activation and DA neuron density and morphology in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Since postnatal environmental enrichment can reduce neuroinflammation and ameliorate several PE-induced behavioral deficits, we examined if a postnatal environmental intervention strategy using neonatal handling and postweaning complex housing could reverse PE effects on VTA DA neurons and microglia. METHODS Pregnant rats received 0 or 6 g/kg/d ethanol by 2 intragastric intubations on gestation days 8 to 20. After birth, rats were reared in the standard laboratory or enriched condition. Male adult rats (8 to 12 weeks old) were used for immunocytochemistry. RESULTS The results showed that PE decreased VTA DA neuron body size in standardly housed rats. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in numbers of VTA microglial branches and junctions in PE rats, suggesting morphological activation of microglia and possible neuroinflammation. The PE effects on microglia were normalized by postnatal environmental intervention, which also decreased the numbers of microglial branches and junctions in control animals, possibly via reduced stress. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show an association between PE-induced morphological activation of microglia and impaired DA neuron morphology in the VTA. Importantly, postnatal environmental intervention rescues possible PE-induced microglial activation. These data support that environmental intervention can be effective in ameliorating cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with VTA DA neuron dysfunctions, such as attention deficits and increased addiction risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia I Aghaie
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | | | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Cynthia J M Kane
- Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Wade J Sigurdson
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ieraci A, Herrera DG. Early Postnatal Ethanol Exposure in Mice Induces Sex-Dependent Memory Impairment and Reduction of Hippocampal NMDA-R2B Expression in Adulthood. Neuroscience 2019; 427:105-115. [PMID: 31874240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is particularly detrimental for the developing brain and may cause a broad spectrum of cognitive and behavioral impairments, collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). While behavioral abnormalities and brain damage have been widely investigated in animal models of FASD, the sex differences in the vulnerability to perinatal ethanol exposure have received less consideration. Here we investigated the long-term behavioral and molecular effects of acute ethanol-binge like exposure during the early postnatal period (equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy) in adult male and female mice. CD1 mice received a single ethanol exposure on P7 and were analyzed starting from P60. We found that ethanol-exposed mice showed increased activity in the open field test and in the plus-maze test, regardless of the sex. Interestingly, only ethanol-exposed adult male mice exhibited memory impairment in the water maze and fear-conditioning tests. Remarkably, hippocampal levels of NMDA-R2B were reduced only in ethanol-exposed male, while total BDNF levels were increased in both male and female ethanol-exposed mice. Our data suggest a different susceptibility of early postnatal ethanol exposure in male and female CD1 mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ieraci
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Daniel G Herrera
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abbott LC, Nigussie F. Adult neurogenesis in the mammalian dentate gyrus. Anat Histol Embryol 2019; 49:3-16. [PMID: 31568602 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Earlier observations in neuroscience suggested that no new neurons form in the mature central nervous system. Evidence now indicates that new neurons do form in the adult mammalian brain. Two regions of the mature mammalian brain generate new neurons: (a) the border of the lateral ventricles of the brain (subventricular zone) and (b) the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. This review focuses only on new neuron formation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. During normal prenatal and early postnatal development, neural stem cells (NSCs) give rise to differentiated neurons. NSCs persist in the dentate gyrus SGZ, undergoing cell division, with some daughter cells differentiating into functional neurons that participate in learning and memory and general cognition through integration into pre-existing neural networks. Axons, which emanate from neurons in the entorhinal cortex, synapse with dendrites of the granule cells (small neurons) of the dentate gyrus. Axons from granule cells synapse with pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA3 region, which send axons to synapse with CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells that send their axons out of the hippocampus proper. Adult neurogenesis includes proliferation, differentiation, migration, the death of some newly formed cells and final integration of surviving cells into neural networks. We summarise these processes in adult mammalian hippocampal neurogenesis and discuss the roles of major signalling molecules that influence neurogenesis, including neurotransmitters and some hormones. The recent controversy raised concerning whether or not adult neurogenesis occurs in humans also is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise C Abbott
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Fikru Nigussie
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Keller SM, Doherty TS, Roth TL. Pharmacological manipulation of DNA methylation normalizes maternal behavior, DNA methylation, and gene expression in dams with a history of maltreatment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10253. [PMID: 31311968 PMCID: PMC6635500 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46539-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The quality of parental care received during development profoundly influences an individual's phenotype, including that of maternal behavior. We previously found that female rats with a history of maltreatment during infancy mistreat their own offspring. One proposed mechanism through which early-life experiences influence behavior is via epigenetic modifications. Indeed, our lab has identified a number of brain epigenetic alterations in female rats with a history of maltreatment. Here we sought to investigate the role of DNA methylation in aberrant maternal behavior. We administered zebularine, a drug known to alter DNA methylation, to dams exposed during infancy to the scarcity-adversity model of low nesting resources, and then characterized the quality of their care towards their offspring. First, we replicate that dams with a history of maltreatment mistreat their own offspring. Second, we show that maltreated-dams treated with zebularine exhibit lower levels of adverse care toward their offspring. Third, we show that administration of zebularine in control dams (history of nurturing care) enhances levels of adverse care. Lastly, we show altered methylation and gene expression in maltreated dams normalized by zebularine. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that epigenetic alterations resulting from maltreatment causally relate to behavioral outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Keller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Tiffany S Doherty
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Tania L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Boschen KE, Keller SM, Roth TL, Klintsova AY. Epigenetic mechanisms in alcohol- and adversity-induced developmental origins of neurobehavioral functioning. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 66:63-79. [PMID: 29305195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The long-term effects of developmental alcohol and stress exposure are well documented in both humans and non-human animal models. Damage to the brain and attendant life-long impairments in cognition and increased risk for psychiatric disorders are debilitating consequences of developmental exposure to alcohol and/or psychological stress. Here we discuss evidence for a role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating these consequences. While we highlight some of the common ways in which stress or alcohol impact the epigenome, we point out that little is understood of the epigenome's response to experiencing both stress and alcohol exposure, though stress is a contributing factor as to why women drink during pregnancy. Advancing our understanding of this relationship is of critical concern not just for the health and well-being of individuals directly exposed to these teratogens, but for generations to come.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K E Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - S M Keller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - T L Roth
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - A Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Li L, Zang L, Zhang F, Chen J, Shen H, Shu L, Liang F, Feng C, Chen D, Tao H, Xu T, Li Z, Kang Y, Wu H, Tang L, Zhang P, Jin P, Shu Q, Li X. Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein regulates adult neurogenesis. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:2398-2411. [PMID: 28398475 PMCID: PMC6192412 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is a member of the Fe (II)- and oxoglutarate-dependent AlkB dioxygenase family and is linked to both obesity and intellectual disability. The role of FTO in neurodevelopment and neurogenesis, however, remains largely unknown. Here we show that FTO is expressed in adult neural stem cells and neurons and displays dynamic expression during postnatal neurodevelopment. The loss of FTO leads to decreased brain size and body weight. We find that FTO deficiency could reduce the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem cells in vivo, which leads to impaired learning and memory. Given the role of FTO as a demethylase of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), we went on to perform genome-wide m6A profiling and observed dynamic m6A modification during postnatal neurodevelopment. The loss of FTO led to the altered expression of several key components of the brain derived neurotrophic factor pathway that were marked by m6A. These results together suggest FTO plays important roles in neurogenesis, as well as in learning and memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liping Li
- Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310058, China
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Liqun Zang
- Institute of Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310058, China
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Feiran Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta,
GA 30322, USA
| | - Junchen Chen
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Hui Shen
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Liqi Shu
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta,
GA 30322, USA
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University,
Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Feng Liang
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Chunyue Feng
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
| | - Deng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of
Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005,
China
| | - Huikang Tao
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
| | - Tianlei Xu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public
Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ziyi Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public
Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yunhee Kang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta,
GA 30322, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public
Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Lichun Tang
- National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Life Sciences Park, Beijing
102206, China
| | - Pumin Zhang
- National Center for Protein Sciences Beijing, Life Sciences Park, Beijing
102206, China
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta,
GA 30322, USA
| | - Qiang Shu
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
| | - Xuekun Li
- The Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou
310052, China
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang
University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| |
Collapse
|