Detecting Neurodevelopmental Effects of Early‐Gestation Ethanol Exposure: A Nonhuman Primate Model of Ethanol Drinking During Pregnancy. (11th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jimenez, Vanessa A.; Wang, Xiaojie; Newman, Natali; Walter, Nicole A. R.; Gonzales, Steven; Lo, Jamie O.; Ford, Mathew M.; Cuzon Carlson, Verginia C.; Grant, Kathleen A.; Kroenke, Christopher D.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 43:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2019-01-11
• Subjects: EtOH Self‐Administration -- Rhesus Macaque -- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder -- In Vivo Fetal Imaging; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.13938
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Gestational ethanol (EtOH) exposure is associated with multiple developmental abnormalities, collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). While the majority of women abstain from EtOH following knowledge of pregnancy, one contributing factor to the high FASD prevalence is that pregnancy is not detected until 4 to 6 weeks. Thus, EtOH consumption continues during the initial stages of fetal development. Methods: An experimental protocol is described in which rhesus macaques self‐administer 1.5 g/kg/d EtOH (or isocaloric maltose dextrin) prior to pregnancy and through the first 60 days of a 168‐day gestation term. Menstrual cycles were monitored, including measurements of circulating estradiol and progesterone levels. The latency to consume 1.5 g/kg EtOH and blood EtOH concentration (BEC) was measured. Results: Twenty‐eight fetuses (14 EtOH and 14 controls) were generated in this study. EtOH did not affect menstrual cycles or the probability of successful breeding. No EtOH‐induced gross adverse effects on pregnancy were observed. Individual variability in latency to complete drinking translated into variability in BEC, measured 90 minutes following session start. Drinking latencies in controls and EtOH drinkers were longer in the second gestational month than in the first. All pregnancies reached the planned experimental time point of G85, G110, or G135, when in utero MRIs were performed, fetuses were delivered by caesarean section, and brains were evaluated with ex vivo procedures, including slice electrophysiology. Fetal tissues have been deposited to the Monkey Alcohol Tissue Research Resource. Conclusions: This FASD model takes advantage of the similarities between humans and rhesus macaques in gestational length relative to brain development, as well as similarities in EtOH self‐administration and metabolism. The daily 1.5 g/kg dose of EtOH through the first trimester does not influence pregnancy success rates. However, pregnancy influences drinking behavior during the second month of pregnancy. Future publications using this model will describe the effect of early‐gestation EtOH exposure on anatomical and functional brain development at subsequent gestational ages. Abstract : A nonhuman primate model of FASD, induced by early‐gestation oral ethanol self‐administration, has been developed. This animal model will be used to assess the ability of in utero MRI procedures to identify ethanol‐induced abnormalities in brain development during the second half of gestation. A mid‐gestation image is shown, which facilitates construction of a 3D brain model (inset). Electrophysiological recordings from tissue slices are obtained from the striatum immediately following MRI to validate the functional significance of abnormalities identified by MRI.