Project description:Moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy can result in brain gene expression changes in resulting offspring. We have developed a mouse model of FASD that involves moderate ethanol exposure in mid-gestation (trimester 2 equivalent) achieved by injections of ethanol. We have previously shown that this model results in phenotypes relevant to FASD. Since ethanol is known to directly affect the expression of genes in the developing brain leading to abnormal cell death, changes to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and potential changes to epigenetic patterning, we hypothesize that there will be gene expression changes immediately following acute ethanol exposure in the fetal brain. We used a microarray experiment and focused on the genes identified to evaluate the genome-wide alterations to the fetal brain transcriptome caused by prenatal ethanol exposure.
Project description:The developing brain is particularly sensitive to ethanol during the brain growth spurt or synaptogenesis (third human trimester equivalent). This has been shown to lead to abnormal brain development and behavioural changes in the adult mouse that are relevant to those seen in humans with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We evaluated the acute (4h post-treatment) gene expression changes that occur in the brain due to ethanol exposure during synaptogenesis (postnatal day 7). We used microarray analyses to evaluate the changes in brain gene expression at postnatal day 7 that occur due to ethanol treatment at postnatal day 7 (synaptogenesis).
Project description:Moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy can result in brain gene expression changes in resulting offspring. We have developed a mouse model of FASD that involves moderate ethanol exposure in mid-gestation (trimester 2 equivalent) achieved by injections of ethanol. We have previously shown that this model results in phenotypes relevant to FASD. Since ethanol is known to directly affect the expression of genes in the developing brain leading to abnormal cell death, changes to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and potential changes to epigenetic patterning, we hypothesize that there will be gene expression changes immediately following acute ethanol exposure in the fetal brain. We used a microarray experiment and focused on the genes identified to evaluate the genome-wide alterations to the fetal brain transcriptome caused by prenatal ethanol exposure. To generate samples, female C57BL/6J mice were given ethanol injections (2.5g/kg of ethanol in saline) twice on gestational days 14 and 16 to produce acute ethanol exposure effects. Control females were injected with the same volume of saline. Dams were sacrified on gestational day 16, following ethanol exposure, and whole brains from fetuses were then extracted. RNA was isolated from brain tissue and samples from three mice were pooled to reduce litter effects and the pooled samples were hybridized on Affymetrix arrays (2 control and 2 ethanol chips, total n=12 mice).
Project description:As part of the civil aviation safety program to define the adverse effects of ethanol on flying performance, we present results of our DNA microarray analysis of samples from a timecourse study of individuals given ethanol orally, and then evaluated by breathalyzer to monitor blood alcohol content (BAC). At five blood alcohol levels, T1-T5, blood was drawn such that the samples represented 0%, 0.04%, 0.08% BAC, and return to 0.04%, and 0.02% BAC. Microarray analysis showed that changes in gene expression could be detected across the time-course. We verified these expression changes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Candidate target genes identified from the microarray analysis were clustered by expression change pattern, examined for shared functions and functional network membership. Five coordinately expressed groups were revealed and functional analysis showed shared transcription factor binding sites and functions for members of the clusters. These functions include protein synthesis and modification, expected for changes in gene expression, hematological and immune functions, expected for a blood sample, and pancreatic and hepatic function, expected as response to ethanol. The results provide a first look at changing gene expression patterns in blood during acute increase of ethanol concentration and its depletion due to metabolism or excretion and demonstrate that it is possible to detect significant changes in gene expression using total RNA isolated from whole blood. The analysis approach for this study can be utilized as part of a workflow to identify target genes by timecourse changes in gene expression that may affect pilot performance.
Project description:Moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy can result in a heterogeneous range of neurobehavioural and cognitive effects, termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We have developed a mouse model of FASD that involves moderate ethanol exposure throughout gestation achieved by voluntary maternal consumption. This model results in phenotypes relevant to FASD. Since ethanol is known to directly affect the expression of genes in the developing brain leading to abnormal cell death, changes to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and potential changes to epigenetic patterning, we hypothesize that this leaves a long-term footprint on the adult brain. However, the long-term effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on brain gene expression, when behavioural phenotypes are apparent, are unclear. We used a microarray experiment and focused on the genes identified by both to evaluate the genome-wide alterations to the adult brain transcriptome caused by prenatal ethanol exposure. To generate samples, female C57BL/6J mice were given ethanol injections (2.5g/kg of ethanol in saline) twice on gestational days 8 and 11 to produce acute ethanol exposure effects. Control females were injected with the same volume of saline. Females were mated. Whole brain RNA from adult (postnatal day 70) male ethanol-exposed offspring was extracted. RNA samples from three mice were pooled to reduce litter effects and the pooled samples were hybridized on Affymetrix arrays (2 control and 2 ethanol chips, total n=12 mice).
Project description:The developing brain is particularly sensitive to ethanol during the brain growth spurt or synaptogenesis (third human trimester equivalent). This has been shown to lead to abnormal brain development and behavioural changes in the adult mouse that are relevant to those seen in humans with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We evaluated the long-term (postnatal day 60 young adult) gene expression changes that occur in the brain due to ethanol exposure during synaptogenesis. We used microarray analyses to evaluate the changes in brain gene expression at postnatal day 60 that occur due to ethanol treatment at postnatal days 4 and 7 (synaptogenesis).
Project description:As part of the civil aviation safety program to define the adverse effects of ethanol on flying performance, we present results of our DNA microarray analysis of samples from a timecourse study of individuals given ethanol orally, and then evaluated by breathalyzer to monitor blood alcohol content (BAC). At five blood alcohol levels, T1-T5, blood was drawn such that the samples represented 0%, 0.04%, 0.08% BAC, and return to 0.04%, and 0.02% BAC. Microarray analysis showed that changes in gene expression could be detected across the time-course. We verified these expression changes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Candidate target genes identified from the microarray analysis were clustered by expression change pattern, examined for shared functions and functional network membership. Five coordinately expressed groups were revealed and functional analysis showed shared transcription factor binding sites and functions for members of the clusters. These functions include protein synthesis and modification, expected for changes in gene expression, hematological and immune functions, expected for a blood sample, and pancreatic and hepatic function, expected as response to ethanol. The results provide a first look at changing gene expression patterns in blood during acute increase of ethanol concentration and its depletion due to metabolism or excretion and demonstrate that it is possible to detect significant changes in gene expression using total RNA isolated from whole blood. The analysis approach for this study can be utilized as part of a workflow to identify target genes by timecourse changes in gene expression that may affect pilot performance. Blood samples were collected from six male subjects given a mixture of orange and vodka such that their BAC would reach a maximum level of 0.08%. Five blood samples, T1-5, were taken from each subject, 0% prior to drinking alcohol, 0.04% and 0.08% as their BAC increased and 0.04% and 0.02% BAC as the alcohol concentration declined. Blood samples were taken from a control set of five male subjects drinking only orange juice. Five sample collections at times averaged from the ethanol blood draws were performed. Total RNA was isolated from all samples. All samples were hybridized to microarrays to examine gene expression changes over the timed exposure to ethanol. One experimental sample failed. The remaining samples for Subject 18, T1-3, T5 were included in the study. There are 29 arrays for the experimental samples and 25 arrays for the control set of samples. There are separate RMA files for the experimental series and for the control series.
Project description:Moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy can result in a heterogeneous range of neurobehavioural and cognitive effects, termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We have developed a mouse model of FASD that involves moderate ethanol exposure throughout gestation achieved by voluntary maternal consumption. This model results in phenotypes relevant to FASD. Since ethanol is known to directly affect the expression of genes in the developing brain leading to abnormal cell death, changes to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and potential changes to epigenetic patterning, we hypothesize that this leaves a long-term footprint on the adult brain. However, the long-term effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on brain gene expression, when behavioural phenotypes are apparent, are unclear. We used a microarray experiment and focused on the genes identified by both to evaluate the genome-wide alterations to the adult brain transcriptome caused by prenatal ethanol exposure.