Molecular and morphological changes in zebrafish following transient ethanol exposure during defined developmental stages.

ABSTRACT: Alcohol is a teratogen that has diverse effects on brain and craniofacial development, leading to a constellation of developmental disorders referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The molecular basis of ethanol insult remains poorly understood, as does the relationship between molecular and behavioral changes as a consequence of prenatal ethanol exposure. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to a range of ethanol concentrations (0.5-5.0%) during defined developmental stages, and examined for morphological phenotypes characteristic of FASD. Embryos were also analyzed by in situ hybridization for changes in expression of defined cell markers for neural cell types that are sonic hedgehog-dependent. We show that transient binge-like ethanol exposures during defined developmental stag

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4120066 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature