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Published in: Behavioral and Brain Functions 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research

Prenatal exposure to alcohol does not affect radial maze learning and hippocampal mossy fiber sizes in three inbred strains of mouse

Authors: Frans Sluyter, Laure Jamot, Jean-Yves Bertholet, Wim E Crusio

Published in: Behavioral and Brain Functions | Issue 1/2005

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on radial-maze learning and hippocampal neuroanatomy, particularly the sizes of the intra- and infrapyramidal mossy fiber (IIPMF) terminal fields, in three inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J).

Results

Although we anticipated a modification of both learning and IIPMF sizes, no such effects were detected. Prenatal alcohol exposure did, however, interfere with reproduction in C57BL/6J animals and decrease body and brain weight (in interaction with the genotype) at adult age.

Conclusion

Prenatal alcohol exposure influenced neither radial maze performance nor the sizes of the IIPMF terminal fields. We believe that future research should be pointed either at different targets when using mouse models for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (e.g. more complicated behavioral paradigms, different hippocampal substructures, or other brain structures) or involve different animal models.
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Metadata
Title
Prenatal exposure to alcohol does not affect radial maze learning and hippocampal mossy fiber sizes in three inbred strains of mouse
Authors
Frans Sluyter
Laure Jamot
Jean-Yves Bertholet
Wim E Crusio
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Behavioral and Brain Functions / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1744-9081
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-1-5

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