Institute of Neurobiology and Laboratory of Neurobiology, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, PR China.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2010 Jul-Aug;45(4):312-9. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agq036. Epub 2010 Jun 11.
To study the long-term changes of dendritic spine and synapse taking place in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Pregnant mice were intubated daily with ethanol (EtOH) from E5 to parturition. A DiI diolistic method was used to label dendritic spines of pyramidal cells in the visual cortex of EtOH-exposed and control pups over the period from postnatal (P) day P0 to P30; synaptic ultrastructure was also analyzed using transmission electron microscopy.
Prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with a significant decrease in the number of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons in the visual cortex and an increase in their mean length. The changes were dose dependent and persisted to P30. Ultrastructural changes were also observed, with decreased numbers of synaptic vesicles, narrowing of the synaptic cleft and thickening of the postsynaptic density compared to controls; ultrastructural changes also persisted to P30.
Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with long-term changes in dendritic spines and synaptic ultrastructure; these alterations probably reflect the developmental retardation of dendritic spines and synapses in visual cortex. These long-term changes are likely to contribute to lifelong mental retardation associated with childhood FASDs.
研究胎儿酒精谱系障碍（FASD）小鼠模型中树突棘和突触的长期变化。
从 E5 到分娩，对怀孕的老鼠进行每日管饲乙醇（EtOH）。使用 DiI 二氧环法标记 EtOH 暴露和对照幼崽在出生后（P）第 0 天至 P30 期间视皮层锥体神经元的树突棘；使用透射电子显微镜分析突触超微结构。
产前酒精暴露与视皮层锥体神经元树突棘数量显著减少和平均长度增加有关。这些变化呈剂量依赖性，并持续到 P30。还观察到超微结构的变化，与对照组相比，突触小泡数量减少，突触间隙变窄，突触后密度增厚；超微结构的变化也持续到 P30。
产前酒精暴露与树突棘和突触的超微结构长期变化有关；这些改变可能反映了视皮层树突棘和突触的发育迟缓。这些长期变化可能导致与儿童 FASD 相关的终生智力迟钝。
