Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model
It is well documented that prenatal ethanol exposure via maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy alters brain and behavioral development in offspring. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises against maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, little emphasis has been...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1147274/full |
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| author | Roberto F. Perez Kathleen E. Conner Michael A. Erickson Mirembe Nabatanzi Kelly J. Huffman Kelly J. Huffman |
| author_facet | Roberto F. Perez Kathleen E. Conner Michael A. Erickson Mirembe Nabatanzi Kelly J. Huffman Kelly J. Huffman |
| author_sort | Roberto F. Perez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well documented that prenatal ethanol exposure via maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy alters brain and behavioral development in offspring. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises against maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, little emphasis has been placed on educating new parents about alcohol consumption while breastfeeding. This is partly due to a paucity of research on lactational ethanol exposure (LEE) effects in children; although, it has been shown that infants exposed to ethanol via breast milk frequently present with reduced body mass, low verbal IQ scores, and altered sleeping patterns. As approximately 36% of breastfeeding mothers in the US consume alcohol, continued research in this area is critical. Our study employed a novel murine LEE model, where offspring were exposed to ethanol via nursing from postnatal day (P) 6 through P20, a period correlated with infancy in humans. Compared to controls, LEE mice had reduced body weights and neocortical lengths at P20 and P30. Brain weights were also reduced in both ages in males, and at P20 for females, however, female brain weights recovered to control levels by P30. We investigated neocortical features and found that frontal cortex thickness was reduced in LEE males compared to controls. Analyses of dendritic spines in the prelimbic subdivision of medial prefrontal cortex revealed a trend of reduced densities in LEE mice. Results of behavioral tests suggest that LEE mice engage in higher risk-taking behavior, show abnormal stress regulation, and exhibit increased hyperactivity. In summary, our data describe potential adverse brain and behavioral developmental outcomes due to LEE. Thus, women should be advised to refrain from consuming alcohol during breastfeeding until additional research can better guide recommendations of safe maternal practices in early infancy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:07:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4986ac535b9c424d81c686a8373fc539 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:07:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-4986ac535b9c424d81c686a8373fc5392023-03-13T04:46:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2023-03-011710.3389/fnins.2023.11472741147274Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse modelRoberto F. Perez0Kathleen E. Conner1Michael A. Erickson2Mirembe Nabatanzi3Kelly J. Huffman4Kelly J. Huffman5Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesInterdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesInterdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United StatesIt is well documented that prenatal ethanol exposure via maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy alters brain and behavioral development in offspring. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises against maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, little emphasis has been placed on educating new parents about alcohol consumption while breastfeeding. This is partly due to a paucity of research on lactational ethanol exposure (LEE) effects in children; although, it has been shown that infants exposed to ethanol via breast milk frequently present with reduced body mass, low verbal IQ scores, and altered sleeping patterns. As approximately 36% of breastfeeding mothers in the US consume alcohol, continued research in this area is critical. Our study employed a novel murine LEE model, where offspring were exposed to ethanol via nursing from postnatal day (P) 6 through P20, a period correlated with infancy in humans. Compared to controls, LEE mice had reduced body weights and neocortical lengths at P20 and P30. Brain weights were also reduced in both ages in males, and at P20 for females, however, female brain weights recovered to control levels by P30. We investigated neocortical features and found that frontal cortex thickness was reduced in LEE males compared to controls. Analyses of dendritic spines in the prelimbic subdivision of medial prefrontal cortex revealed a trend of reduced densities in LEE mice. Results of behavioral tests suggest that LEE mice engage in higher risk-taking behavior, show abnormal stress regulation, and exhibit increased hyperactivity. In summary, our data describe potential adverse brain and behavioral developmental outcomes due to LEE. Thus, women should be advised to refrain from consuming alcohol during breastfeeding until additional research can better guide recommendations of safe maternal practices in early infancy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1147274/fullalcoholbehaviorneocortexlactationanatomybrain development |
| spellingShingle | Roberto F. Perez Kathleen E. Conner Michael A. Erickson Mirembe Nabatanzi Kelly J. Huffman Kelly J. Huffman Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model Frontiers in Neuroscience alcohol behavior neocortex lactation anatomy brain development |
| title | Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| title_full | Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| title_fullStr | Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| title_short | Alcohol and lactation: Developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| title_sort | alcohol and lactation developmental deficits in a mouse model |
| topic | alcohol behavior neocortex lactation anatomy brain development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1147274/full |
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