The Effect of Exposure to Alcohol During Prenatal Development

Exposure to alcohol during prenatal development is one of the leading causes of preventable birth defects and mental impairments (Bower, Szajer, Mattson, Riley, Murphy, 2013; Nuà ±ez, Roussotte, Sowell, 2011; Sowell et al., 2008a). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), the more severe form of PAE, affects two to seven out of every 1000 individuals in the United States (May et al., as cited in Simmons, Thomas, Levy Riley, 2010). The term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes an individual with varying levels of PAE. Sampson et al. (as cited in Simmons at al., 2010) estimated that one in every 100 individuals suffers from some form of FASD. With such a high prevalence in the population, numerous studies have been done showing the†¦show more content†¦Alcohol has been shown to alter normal brain development by interfering with normal cell processes responsible for cell division and gene expression. Guerri and Renau-Piqueras (1997) explained that alcohol affects cell d ivision by inhibiting cytoskeleton activity. This increases the cells in the G0 and G1 phase, which reduces the number of mitotic cell undergoing cell division. A later study by Anthony, Zhou, Ogawa, Goodlett, and Ruiz (2008) found similar findings in the reduction of mitotic cells, but through induced apoptosis. They used mouse dorsal root ganglion stem cells to research the affect of PAE on the G1 and S phase of the cell cycle. Cell cultures were either exposure to 200 mg/dl or 400 mg/dl of alcohol, excluding the control group. These researchers found that alcohol exposure increased the levels of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, and E2F1, each of which play an important role in the regulation of the G1 and S phase of the cell cycle as well as subsequent cell division. Over expression of these proteins leads to decreased regulation in the cell cycle, altered DNA synthesis, increased DNA fragmentations, and ultimately apoptosis. This supports their findings of reduced cell numbers in the cultures exposed to alcohol. In addition, alcohol has been found to affect DNA replication by altering the DNA methylation process. DNA methylation (5mC) isShow MoreRelatedFetal Alcohol Syndrome And Its Effects1712 Words   |  7 Pages Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its Effects On a Child’s Cognitive Development Dane D. Hrencher Kansas State University Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and its Effects On a Child’s Cognitive Development Alcohol is known as one the most dangerous teratogens. Every time a pregnant woman drinks, she allows alcohol to enter her blood stream and make its way into the placenta. 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