Moderate‐Level Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Induces Sex Differences in Dopamine D1 Receptor Binding in Adult Rhesus Monkeys. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Converse, Alexander K.; Moore, Colleen F.; Holden, James E.; Ahlers, Elizabeth O.; Moirano, Jeffrey M.; Larson, Julie A.; Resch, Leslie M.; DeJesus, Onofre T.; Barnhart, Todd E.; Nickles, Robert J.; Murali, Dhanabalan; Christian, Bradley T.; Schneider, Mary L.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 12(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 2934
• Page End: 2943
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12575-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12575-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>We examined the effects of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and/or prenatal stress exposure on (D<sub>1</sub>R) binding in a non human primate model. The dopamine D<sub>1</sub>R is involved in executive function, and it may play a role in cognitive behavioral deficits associated with prenatal alcohol and/or stress exposure. Little is known, however, about the effects of prenatal alcohol and/or stress exposure on the D<sub>1</sub>R. We expected that prenatal insults would lead to alterations in D<sub>1</sub>R binding in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum in adulthood.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12575-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Rhesus macaque females were randomly assigned to moderate alcohol exposure and/or mild prenatal stress as well as a control condition during pregnancy. Thirty‐eight offspring were raised identically and studied as adults by noninvasive in vivo neuroimaging using positron emission tomography with the D<sub>1</sub> antagonist radiotracer [<sup>11</sup>C]SCH 23390. Radiotracer binding in PFC and striatum was evaluated by 2 (alcohol) × 2 (stress) × 2 (sex) analysis of variance.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12575-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In PFC, a significant alcohol × sex interaction was observed with prenatal alcohol exposure leading to increased [<sup>11</sup>C]SCH 23390 binding in male monkeys. No main effect of prenatal alcohol or prenatal stress exposure was observed.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12575-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These results suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure results in long‐term increases in prefrontal dopamine D<sub>1</sub>R binding in males. This may help explain gender differences in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders consequent to prenatal alcohol exposure.</p> </sec> </abstract>