Dietary zinc supplementation during pregnancy prevents spatial and object recognition memory impairments caused by early prenatal ethanol exposure

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dc.contributor.authorPearce, B.
dc.contributor.authorHenry, C.
dc.contributor.authorRofe, A.
dc.contributor.authorCoyle, P.
dc.date.issued2008
dc.descriptionCopyright © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
dc.description.abstractAlcohol-induced zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the mechanisms proposed as a cause of ethanol teratogenicity. Subcutaneous Zn treatment with ethanol in early pregnancy has been shown to prevent birth abnormalities and memory impairments in mice. This study examined whether dietary Zn supplementation throughout pregnancy can prevent cognitive impairments caused by early ethanol exposure. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control (35 microg Zn/g) or Zn-supplemented (200 microg Zn/g) diet throughout pregnancy. On gestational day (GD) 8, mice received two intraperitoneal injections (4h apart) of either saline or 25% ethanol (0.015 mL/g). All offspring were screened for physical and behavioural defects (e.g. growth, visual, exploratory, anxiety, motor deficits). Twenty-four phenotypically-normal offspring were randomly selected from each of the four treatment groups (saline +/- Zn-supplementation, ethanol +/- Zn-supplementation) and tested at 60 d of age using a cross-maze escape task for spatial learning and memory impairments, and an object recognition task. While no differences were observed between treatments for spatial learning, offspring exposed to ethanol demonstrated spatial memory impairments at both 12 and 28 d after learning an escape task, with less correct trials and increased escape latency scores compared with saline-treated mice. Furthermore, these mice also exhibited impairments in object recognition memory. In comparison, ethanol-exposed offspring from dams fed a Zn-supplemented diet throughout pregnancy did not display spatial memory or object recognition deficits, performing at the same level as saline-treated offspring. Therefore, dietary Zn-supplementation during pregnancy prevents spatial and object recognition memory impairments caused by ethanol exposure during early pregnancy.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityBrooke L. Summers, Catherine M.A. Henry, Allan M. Rofe and Peter Coyle
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/506045/description#description
dc.identifier.citationBehavioural Brain Research, 2008; 186(2):230-238
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.bbr.2007.08.011
dc.identifier.issn0166-4328
dc.identifier.issn1872-7549
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/52660
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier Science BV
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2007.08.011
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectMice, Inbred C57BL
dc.subjectAnimals, Newborn
dc.subjectMice
dc.subjectMemory Disorders
dc.subjectPrenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
dc.subjectZinc
dc.subjectAlcohols
dc.subjectBody Size
dc.subjectAnalysis of Variance
dc.subjectAvoidance Learning
dc.subjectMaze Learning
dc.subjectReaction Time
dc.subjectAge Factors
dc.subjectPregnancy
dc.subjectTime Factors
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectRecognition, Psychology
dc.titleDietary zinc supplementation during pregnancy prevents spatial and object recognition memory impairments caused by early prenatal ethanol exposure
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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