Abnormal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Placental Insufficiency in a Preclinical Model.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The combination of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and placental insufficiency (PI) places infants at an increased risk for preterm birth and may worsen brain injury and neurobehavioral outcomes. In this preclinical study, the effect of PAE + PI on lateral, medial, and ventral prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum and corpus callosum microstructure were investigated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). These brain regions are important for executive and higher cognitive functions, like cognitive flexibility.

Methods

Pregnant Long-Evans rat dams voluntarily drank 5% ethanol in saccharin water or plain saccharin water until embryonic day 18 (E18) to mimic moderate PAE. On E19, an open laparotomy was completed, and the uterine arteries were transiently occluded for 1

SUBMITTER: Dominguez ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695109 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature