(provided by candidate):
The aim of the proposed work is to examine the hypotheses that prenatal choline supplementation enhances neurogenesis in adult and aged rats, and moderates stress reactivity in adult rats. Choline availability in utero modulates hippocampal cholinergic function and memory in adulthood, and prenatal choline supplementation, specifically, enhances hippocampal function and morphology, and has the extraordinary effect of preventing declines in memory in aged rats. Enhanced and preserved neurogenesis across the lifespan may be one mechanism by which prenatal choline supplementation confers a cognitive advantage to adult and aging rats. Stress reactivity is also established during development and is subject to modification by perinatal environmental factors. Altered HPA function may contribute to choline's positive effects in adulthood and choline may prevent stress' negative effects on aging. Findings consistent with this proposal would be the first to demonstrate that prenatal choline supplementation enhances neurogenesis in adulthood and has the capacity to moderate physiological, behavioral, and neuroanatomical responses to stress.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32AG025052-02
Application #
7228627
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02A (20))
Program Officer
Wise, Bradley C
Project Start
2005-04-02
Project End
2008-04-01
Budget Start
2006-04-03
Budget End
2007-04-01
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$50,428
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Glenn, Melissa J; Kirby, Elizabeth D; Gibson, Erin M et al. (2008) Age-related declines in exploratory behavior and markers of hippocampal plasticity are attenuated by prenatal choline supplementation in rats. Brain Res 1237:110-23
Wong-Goodrich, Sarah J E; Mellott, Tiffany J; Glenn, Melissa J et al. (2008) Prenatal choline supplementation attenuates neuropathological response to status epilepticus in the adult rat hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 30:255-69
Glenn, Melissa J; Gibson, Erin M; Kirby, Elizabeth D et al. (2007) Prenatal choline availability modulates hippocampal neurogenesis and neurogenic responses to enriching experiences in adult female rats. Eur J Neurosci 25:2473-82