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Maternal Alcohol Consumption Increases Sphingosine Levels in the Brains of Progeny Mice

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Abstract

The effect of ‘binge’ alcohol upon sphingolipid metabolism in the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was examined in pregnant mice (C57BL/6J) by administering a single dose of alcohol during the third trimester (gestational day 15–16). The control mice were administered a sucrose solution of equal caloric value. Brains from progeny at postnatal days 5, 15, 21 and 30 were dissected into three regions, and sphingolipid concentrations of the brain regions were determined including assay of monoglycosylceramide, ceramide, sphingosine and sphingomyelin. We found that a single dose of ethanol induces an elevation of sphingosine (2–3.5-fold) in the brain of progeny. The level of brain ceramide at a dose of 1.5 g/kg was significantly higher than control. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy induces neuronal loss in progeny brains. Our result suggests that the elevation of sphingosine in progeny brain induced by maternal alcohol consumption may be responsible for observed neuronal loss in FAS.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Prof. W.O. Boggan, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, for helpful consultation and suggestions regarding this work. The technical assistance of Ms. Elaine Terry is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by a grant from NIH/NIAAA AA11865.

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  1. S. Dasgupta & E. L. Hogan

    Present address: Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, CB# 2803, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA

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  1. Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, P.O. 250606, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    S. Dasgupta, J. A. Adams & E. L. Hogan

  2. Summer research program, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    J. A. Adams

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Dasgupta, S., Adams, J.A. & Hogan, E.L. Maternal Alcohol Consumption Increases Sphingosine Levels in the Brains of Progeny Mice. Neurochem Res 32, 2217–2224 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9445-3

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