Date of Award
Spring 5-6-2023
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Basic Biomedical Science
First Advisor
William Mayhan
Second Advisor
Barbara Goodman
Third Advisor
Yohaan Fernandes
Keywords
FASD, cerebrovascular impairment, alcohol, in utero, rat, behavioral abnormalities
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which describes a range of developmental disorders. The goal of this study was to examine the association between impaired cerebrovascular function and behavioral abnormalities associated with FASD. We fed Sprague-Dawley dams a liquid diet with or without alcohol (3% ethanol) for the duration of their pregnancy. We then performed short-term memory and motor coordination assessments on the offspring during adolescence or adulthood. Next, we examined cerebral arteriole reactivity to the vasodilators nitroglycerin, adenosine diphosphate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and iloprost. We found impairment in eNOS-, nNOS-, and K-channel-dependent dilation of cerebrovascular arterioles in rats exposed to alcohol in utero. Furthermore, we found short-term memory impairment in those rats, as well as modest motor learning differences in adolescent, alcohol-exposed rats. Based on the findings, we suggest that impaired cerebrovascular function, resulting in decreased blood flow to essential areas of the brain, may contribute to impaired short-term memory and learning differences exhibited by rats exposed to alcohol prenatally.
Recommended Citation
Knecht, Tiffany M., "The Relationship Between Cerebrovascular Impairment and Behavioral Abnormalities in Rats Exposed to Alcohol In Utero" (2023). Honors Thesis. 300.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/300
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