Genetic absence of nNOS worsens fetal alcohol effects in mice. I: behavioral deficits.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol abuse during pregnancy often induces neuropsychological problems in the offspring, including learning disorders, attention deficits, and behavior problems, all of which are prominent components of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). However, not all children who were exposed to alcohol in utero are equally affected by it. While some children have major deficits, others are spared. This unequal vulnerability is likely due largely to differences in fetal genetics. Some fetuses appear to have certain genotypes that make them much more prone to FASD. However, to date, no gene has been identified that worsens alcohol-induced brain dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous molecule that can protect developing neurons against alcohol-induced death. In the brain,

SUBMITTER: Karacay B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4331461 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature