Among the most common, yet devastating, effects of prenatal ethanol exposure are those that involve the developing brain. While both structural and functional abnormalities of the brain have been described in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)/Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), gaps remain in our understanding of the full range of these defects and of expected structural/functional correlates. Following up on the previous work of others, as well as the applicant's recent research, the experiments proposed herein are designed to examine the long-term effects of early gestational exposure on both brain structure and function and to provide correlative data. Overall, the proposed work will test the hypothesis that ethanol exposure at early gestational stages (gestational day [GD] 8 in mice;equivalent to the fourth week post fertilization in humans) results in a correlative pattern of brain dysmorphology and neurofunctional deficits that persists into adulthood. The proposed work will employ a mouse FASD model, state of the art high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and a battery of cognitive, sensory, motor and other behavioral tests. In addition to furthering the applicant's training in MRI/DTI techniques, analyses and interpretation, the experiments and educational opportunities outlined in this proposal will greatly enhance the candidate's knowledge and understanding of methods designed to characterize neurofunctional phenotypes. Promise for the successful completion of this work is provided by the exceptional research environment of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and of Duke University, mentorship by and collaboration with experts in the FASD field (Dr. K Sulik), behavioral analyses (Dr. S Moy), and imaging technologies (Drs A Johnson and M Styner), as well as the applicant's previous FASD research experience. Having illustrated the utility of high resolution MRI for discovery of ethanol-induced brain dysmorphology in fetal mice (Parnell et al, 2009), the proposed work will extend these analyses into postnatal stages. This work will be conducted by addressing 3 sub-hypotheses and the associated specific aims as follows:
SPECIFIC AIM #1 will test the hypothesis that acute ethanol exposure on GD 8 will produce long-term morphological effects on specific regions of the mouse brain. The experiments for this aim will utilize high-resolution MRI and will entail analyses of the brains of postnatal day (PD) 12, 30, and 90 mice.
SPECIFIC AIM #2 will test the hypothesis that this same ethanol exposure paradigm will alter the interconnecting neural pathways of the brain. Fiber tracts of the brains of PD 12, 30, and 90 mice will be assessed utilizing DTI.
SPECIFIC AIM #3 will test the hypothesis that acute GD 8 ethanol exposure will result in neurofunctional abnormalities in adolescent and adult mice that are consistent with the observed dysmorphology. The results of these studies will provide important data regarding the long-term consequences of early gestational ethanol exposure and will, undoubtedly, promise to inform FASD diagnosis and prevention efforts. Additionally, the research and training described in this proposal will provide a solid foundation for both future studies regarding ethanol's teratogenesis, and the candidate's goal of pursuing a career as an academician.

Public Health Relevance

The experiments in this project will use MRI and behavioral tests to examine the effects of ethanol during early pregnancy in a mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The goal of this work is to increase our understanding of the spectrum of ethanol's effects in order to aid in the prevention and better diagnosis of FASD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Career Transition Award (K99)
Project #
1K99AA018697-01
Application #
7771046
Study Section
Health Services Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Matochik, John A
Project Start
2010-02-01
Project End
2011-12-31
Budget Start
2010-02-01
Budget End
2010-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$89,988
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Fish, E W; Wieczorek, L A; Rumple, A et al. (2018) The enduring impact of neurulation stage alcohol exposure: A combined behavioral and structural neuroimaging study in adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 338:173-184
Fish, Eric W; Parnell, Scott E; Sulik, Kathleen K et al. (2017) Preaxial polydactyly following early gestational exposure to the smoothened agonist, SAG, in C57BL/6J mice. Birth Defects Res 109:49-54
Fish, Eric W; Murdaugh, Laura B; Sulik, Kathleen K et al. (2017) Genetic vulnerabilities to prenatal alcohol exposure: Limb defects in sonic hedgehog and GLI2 heterozygous mice. Birth Defects Res 109:860-865
Gilbert, Marcoita T; Sulik, Kathleen K; Fish, Eric W et al. (2016) Dose-dependent teratogenicity of the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol 58:15-22
Parnell, Scott E; Holloway, Hunter E; Baker, Lorinda K et al. (2014) Dysmorphogenic effects of first trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure in mice: a magnetic resonance microscopy-based study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 38:2008-14
Dou, Xiaowei; Wilkemeyer, Michael F; Menkari, Carrie E et al. (2013) Mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates ethanol inhibition of cell adhesion mediated by the L1 neural cell adhesion molecule. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:5683-8
Parnell, Scott E; Holloway, Hunter T; O'Leary-Moore, Shonagh K et al. (2013) Magnetic resonance microscopy-based analyses of the neuroanatomical effects of gestational day 9 ethanol exposure in mice. Neurotoxicol Teratol 39:77-83