Neuronal reduction in frontal cortex of primates after prenatal alcohol exposure

• DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0b013e32831b449c
• Publication Date: 2008-12-03T08:44:55Z
• Authors: Mark W. Burke; Roberta M. Palmour; Frank R. Ervin; Maurice Ptito
• Keywords: Frontal cortex; Stereology; Frontal lobe; Prenatal Alcohol Exposure; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Fetal alcohol

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) show behavioral and intellectual impairments that indicate frontal lobe dysfunction, but the extent of damage to this region has not been clarified by brain imaging studies. This study uses St Kitts vervet monkey, a species voluntarily consumes beverage alcohol, examine effects prenatal ethanol exposure. Pregnant vervets were allowed drink equivalent 3–5 standard drinks four times week during third trimester. Using unbiased stereology, we estimated neuronal reduction found significantly fewer cells in lobes FASD offspring as well an increased density interstitial white matter neurons. These cytoarchitectonic are consistent cognitive changes observed FASD.