Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Biology
Supervisor
DR. SHIVA SINGH
Abstract
Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy results in a spectrum of behavioural and cognitive deficits collectively known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Currently, little is know about if and how the external environment may modulate these deficits. I have used C57BL/6 mice to study this interaction between prenatal alcohol exposure and the postnatal environment. Alcohol exposure during synaptogenesis produces high levels of anxiety-like traits and decreased memory performance. Alcohol-exposed mice (and matched unexposed controls) were put in 'environmentally-enriched' conditions of voluntary exercise, physical activities and cognitive stimulation to ascertain the effects of a positive postnatal environment. The results show that environmental enrichment ameliorates anxiety-like behaviour and memory deficits of alcohol-exposed mice. However this recovery is incomplete, indicative of the long-lasting, potentially permanent damage of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain.
In follow-up studies, I have uncovered gene expression changes in the hippocampus that are associated with behavioural and cognitive amelioration. To accomplish this, I have used mouse hippocampal RNA for microarray and RNA-Seq. My results have identified several key genes and molecular pathways that are associated with synaptic and structural plasticity, neurogenesis, long-term potentiation and angiogenesis. The behavioural and molecular results of this project represent a novel finding in the field of FASD research. The genes and pathways uncovered provide a possible explanation to understand FASD. They are also potential targets when formulating behavioural and pharmacological rehabilitative therapies.
Recommended Citation
Chokroborty-Hoque, Aniruddho, "Amelioration of prenatal alcohol effects by environmental enrichment in a mouse model of FASD" (2017). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4850.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4850
Included in
Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Bioinformatics Commons, Developmental Neuroscience Commons, Genetic Processes Commons, Genomics Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons
