Fetal alcohol syndrome is recognized as the leading known cause of mental retardation in the Western World. Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by abnormal brain development, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex being the most affected areas in the developing brain. There are a number of deficits which occur such as prenatal and postnatal deficiencies, microcephaly, and craniofacial abnormalities. While we do not know the underlying mechanism of enhanced cell death in the ethanol exposed fetal brain, there is increasing evidence that ethanol induces an increase in apoptotic cell death. It is hypothesized that ex utero ethanol exposure initiates a cascade of events at the mitochondrial level in the developing brain, specifically by direct effects on astrocytes and neurons, inducing oxidative damage and ultimately apoptotic cell death. These studies will utilize three models including the """"""""pup in a cup"""""""" model of the brain growth spurt, and cultures of cortical neurons and astrocytes isolated from fetal and neonatal pups. The first specific aim is to determine the effects of ethanol exposure on the generation and location of reactive oxygen species in neonatal rat cortical astrocytes and primary cortical neurons. This will be accomplished through the use of cell viability studies, generation of ROS in intact cells and mitochondria. The second specific aim is designed to determine how ethanol induces apoptotic cell death in the developing neonatal rat brain using specific apoptotic measures. The apoptotic measures chosen are mitochondrial permeability transition, cytochrome c and AIF release, caspase-c activity, and DNA fragmentation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AA013675-03
Application #
6898462
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-CC (01))
Program Officer
Foudin, Laurie L
Project Start
2002-06-01
Project End
2005-01-31
Budget Start
2004-06-01
Budget End
2005-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$29,453
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Watts, Lora Talley; Rathinam, Mary Latha; Schenker, Steven et al. (2005) Astrocytes protect neurons from ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic death. J Neurosci Res 80:655-66
Ramachandran, Vinitha; Watts, Lora Talley; Maffi, Shivani Kaushal et al. (2003) Ethanol-induced oxidative stress precedes mitochondrially mediated apoptotic death of cultured fetal cortical neurons. J Neurosci Res 74:577-88