Both advanced maternal age and multiparity are factors which place the human conceptus at risk. It has been shown recently that mothers of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) children have had more pregnancies and are older than mothers who give birth to normal children. The present study will examine both maternal age and parity in a rodent model of FAS. Our hypothesis is that old dams with a high parity history will produce the most severely affected offspring. It is the aim of this study to provide information on the effects of prenatal alcohol and maternal age, maternal parity, and the combination of both age and parity on pregnancy outcome and offspring development. Pregnancy outcome will be assessed by measuring maternal weight, resorptions, malformations (external), sex ratio, and birth weights. Offspring development will be assessed by measuring growth, mortality, and behavior. Offspring behavior that will be measured will be olfaction, activity and learning. This information combined with knowledge of the mother's drinking pattern may provide insight into the potential risks that produce an FAS child.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AA006032-02
Application #
3109280
Study Section
Alcohol Psychosocial Research Review Committee (ALCP)
Project Start
1984-01-01
Project End
1987-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071284913
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45229
Vorhees, C V; Rauch, S L; Hitzemann, R J (1991) Prenatal valproic acid exposure decreases neuronal membrane order in rat offspring hippocampus and cortex. Neurotoxicol Teratol 13:471-4
Vorhees, C V; Rauch, S L; Hitzemann, R J (1990) Prenatal phenytoin exposure decreases neuronal membrane order in rat offspring hippocampus. Int J Dev Neurosci 8:283-8
Vorhees, C V (1989) A fostering/crossfostering analysis of the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure in a liquid diet on offspring development and behavior in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 11:115-20
Vorhees, C V; Minck, D R (1989) Long-term effects of prenatal phenytoin exposure on offspring behavior in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 11:295-305
Minck, D R; Erway, L C; Vorhees, C V (1989) Preliminary findings of a reduction of otoconia in the inner ear of adult rats prenatally exposed to phenytoin. Neurotoxicol Teratol 11:307-11
Vorhees, C V (1988) Maternal age as a factor in determining the reproductive and behavioral outcome of rats prenatally exposed to ethanol. Neurotoxicol Teratol 10:23-34
Vorhees, C V; Minck, D R; Berry, H K (1988) Anticonvulsants and brain development. Prog Brain Res 73:229-44
Vorhees, C V; Rauch, S; Hitzemann, R (1988) Effects of short-term prenatal alcohol exposure on neuronal membrane order in rats. Brain Res 466:161-6
Vorhees, C V (1987) Maze learning in rats: a comparison of performance in two water mazes in progeny prenatally exposed to different doses of phenytoin. Neurotoxicol Teratol 9:235-41
Vorhees, C V (1987) Behavioral teratogenicity of valproic acid: selective effects on behavior after prenatal exposure to rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 92:173-9

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