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Ethanol Induced Cerebellar Transcriptomic Changes in a Postnatal Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Focus on Disease Onset

ABSTRACT: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by ethanol exposure in utero, which can result in neurocognitive and behavioral impairments, growth defects, and craniofacial anomalies. FASD affects up to 1-5% of school-aged children in the United States, and there is currently no cure. The underlying mechanisms involved in ethanol teratogenesis remain elusive and need greater understanding to develop and implement effective therapies. Using a third trimester human equivalent postnatal mouse model of FASD, we evaluate the transcriptomic changes induced by ethanol exposure in the cerebellum on P5 and P6, after only 1 or 2 days of ethanol exposure, with the goal of shedding light on the transcriptomic changes induced early during the onset and development of FASD. We have highlighted key pathways and cellular functions altered by ethanol exposure, which include pathways related to immune function and cytokine signaling as well as the cell cycle. Additionally, we found that ethanol exposure resulted in an increase in transcripts associated with a neurodegenerative microglia phenotype, and acute- and pan-injury reactive astrocyte phenotypes. Mixed effects on oligodendrocyte lineage cell associated transcripts and cell cycle associated transcripts were observed. These studies help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that may be involved with the onset of FASD and provide further insights that may aid in identifying novel targets for interventions and therapeutics.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE226532 | GEO | 2023/03/07

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Purpose: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) result from ethanol exposure to the developing fetus. FASD occur in up to 1-5% of live births in the United States and there currently is no cure. Ethanol exposure to the developing central nervous system (CNS) has profound effects on learning and memory, impulse control, and motor function, resulting from neuropathology. The purpose of the current study was to perform transcriptome analysis to evaluate the effects of early postnatal ethanol exposure in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Methods: Postnatal C57BL/6 mice were treated with 4g/kg of ethanol from P4-P9, brains were harvested 24h after the final treatment at P10, hippocampi and cerebella were microdissected, RNA was isolated, and RNASeq analysis was performed. We compared differences in gene expression, sex-dependent expression, and global biological pathways associated with disruptions in hippocampal and cerebellar genes between the ethanol and vehicle treated neonates. Results: Ethanol caused both an up and down regulation of genes associated with the hippocampus and cerebellum, which may result in the disruption of normal circuitry and maturation and growth in these brain regions. Ethanol increased the expression of genes associated with the S phase of the cell cycle in both the hippocampus and cerebellum. In the cerebellum, ethanol increased effector gene expression, and in the hippocampus, genes associated with different interneuron lineages were altered. Postnatal ethanol exposure also resulted in altered expression of genes associated with oligodendrocyte lineages and myelination, along with alterations in microglia associated genes. Conclusion: Collectively, these data indicate that ethanol has profound effects on the hippocampus and cerebellum, resulting in alterations of gene expression and biological pathways regulating neurodevelopment. These studies may have important implications concerning alcohol-induced neuropathology and the neurological effects seen across the life span in FASD.

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Ethanol Induced Cerebellar Transcriptomic Changes in a Postnatal Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Focus on Disease Onset

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