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2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Molecular biological approach to explore the cause of brain damage after prenatal ethanol exposure

Research Project

Project/Area Number 16390310
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokushima

Principal Investigator

FUKUI Yoshihiro  The University of Tokushima, Graduate School Institute of Health Biosciences, Professor, 大学院ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 教授 (50144168)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) SAWADA Kazuhiko  The University of Tokushima, Graduate School Institute of Health Biosciences, Associate Professor, 大学院ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 助教授 (10284324)
SAKATA Hiromi (HAGA Hiromi)  The University of Tokushima, Gradate School Institute of Health Biosciences, Assistant Professor, 大学院ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 講師 (50294666)
IMAGAWA Tomohiro  The University of Tokushima, School of Medecine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (20232605)
MIKI Takanori  The University of Tokushima, School of Medecine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (30274294)
Project Period (FY) 2004 – 2006
Keywordsfetal alcohol syndrome / serotonin / BDNF / NGF / astrocyte
Research Abstract

To identify genes and factors which are responsible for brain alterations after prenatal ethanol exposure, we examined expression of genes and determination of neurotransmitters or neurotrophic factors in ethanol-exposed rat brains. Immunohistochemical study using anti-5-HT antibody revealed that prenatal ethanol exposure resulted in a reduction in the number and defects of migration of serotonin-positive neurons in the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei of rat fetuses. In ethanol-exposed rat fetuses, amounts of both 5-HT and its metabolite (5-HIAA) were decreased as well. RT-PCR analysis revealed a reduction of sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in the brains of ethanol-exposed rat fetuses. Because Shh is related to the fate of 5-HT neuron, we concluded that prenatal exposure to ethanol impairs the development of 5-HT neurons, and this might have resulted in the reduction of Shh expressions. Therefore, the reduction of 5-HT neurons seen in the raphe persisted into adulthood, and prenatal ethanol-exposed rats showed anxiety-like behavior. In ethanol-exposed rat cerebellum, BDNF mRNA was decreased but NGF and its receptor (Trk A) mRNA expression were increased. Also, reduction of OMgp and GDNF mRNA expression was observed in the hippocampus and the septum nucleus, respectively. Thus, it is established that ethanol can affect expression of certain neurotrophic factors and their receptors. We monitored the intracellular calcium concentration after glutamate stimulation in ethanol-treated astrocytes derived from the hippocampus of neonatal rat (Day 3), and revealed that the glutamate-reactive cell number was decreased compared to non-ethanol-treated astrocytes. Since the calcium concentration in astrocytes might be related to maturation of synapse, the result suggests that ethanol may affect development of the neural circuit via a calcium signaling cascade in astrocytes.

  • Research Products

    (14 results)

All 2006 2005 2004

All Journal Article (13 results) Book (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Alterations in circadian rhythm phase shifting ability in rats following ethanol exposure during the third trimester brain growth spurt2006

    • Author(s)
      Sakata-Haga H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Alcoholism : Clinical and Experimental Research 30

      Pages: 899-907

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) in rat hippocampus is depleted by chronic ethanol consumption.2006

    • Author(s)
      Okamoto H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Neurosci Lett. 406

      Pages: 76-80

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of chronic ethanol administration on the expression levels of neurotrophic factors in the rat hippocampus.2006

    • Author(s)
      Okamoto H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 83

      Pages: 1-6

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Alterations in circadian rhythm phase shifting ability in rats following ethanol exposure during the third trimester brain growth spurt2006

    • Author(s)
      Sakata-Haga H et al.
    • Journal Title

      Alcoholism : Clinical and Experimental Research 30

      Pages: 899-907

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein(OMgp)in rat hippocampus is depleted by chronic ethanolconsumption.2006

    • Author(s)
      Okamoto H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Neurosci Lett 406

      Pages: 76-80

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of chronic ethanol administration on the expression levels of neurotrophic factors in the rat hippocampus.2006

    • Author(s)
      Okamoto H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Okajimas Falia Anat Jpn. 83

      Pages: 1-6

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Morphological study on the inferior olivary nuclear complex of the donkey (Equus asinus)2006

    • Author(s)
      RASHED R, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Tisssue and Cell 38

      Pages: 353-359

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Interaction between glycogen body cell and neuron : examination in co-culture system2006

    • Author(s)
      Imagawa T, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 68(in press)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Expression of lactate dehydrogenase-A and-B mRNAs in chick glycogen body.2006

    • Author(s)
      Imagawa T, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Poultry Science 85

      Pages: 1232-1238

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Muscular contractions in the zebrafish embryo are necessary to reveal thiuram-induced notochord distortions2006

    • Author(s)
      Teraoka H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 212

      Pages: 24-34

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Fetal alcohol effects potential treatments from basic science2005

    • Author(s)
      Consuelo guerri M Pascual, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 29(6)

      Pages: 1074-1079

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Hydrocephalus following prenatal exposure to ethanol2004

    • Author(s)
      Sakata-Haga H, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Acta Neuropathologica 108

      Pages: 393-398

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of age and alcohol exposure during early life on pyramidal cell numbers in the CA1-CA3 region of the rat hippocampus2004

    • Author(s)
      Miki T, et al.
    • Journal Title

      Hippocampus 14(1)

      Pages: 124-134

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Book] 女性とアルコール2005

    • Author(s)
      坂田 ひろみ
    • Total Pages
      16-19
    • Publisher
      特定非営利活動法人 お茶の水学術事業会
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より

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Published: 2008-05-27  

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