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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Ethanol Increases Fetal Human Neurosphere Size and Alters Adhesion Molecule Gene Expression
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles) 20 Dec 2007

Ethanol (ETOH) consumption by pregnant women can result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). To date, the cellular targets and mechanisms responsible for FASD are not fully characterized. Our aim was to determine if ETOH can affect fetal human brain-derived neural progenitor cells (NPC).

ETOH had no effect on NPC apoptosis but, resulted in more rapid coalescence and increased volume of neurospheres. Additionally, the expression of genes associated with cell adhesion was significantly altered. ETOH induced changes in NPC surface adhesion interactions may underlie aspects of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in FASD.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: svangipuram@med.wayne.edu

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