Developmental ethanol exposure alters the morphology of pyramidal neurons within regions of the mouse sensory cortex

Abstract

Chronic exposure to ethanol during development may alter the normal structure and function of neurons within the mammalian brain. This thesis focused on effects of developmental ethanol exposure on the structure of pyramidal neurons within the mouse piriform cortex (PC) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Sholl analysis demonstrated that ethanol exposure in the PC reduced dendrite tree size for neurons in female mice at postnatal day (P)15, and also affected dendrite diameter and volume in males at P25. In S1, females and males exhibited no change in dendrite tree size following treatment at P15, however, females exhibited a greater dendrite tree size at P25. Dendrite spine density was altered by ethanol treatment in a sex-dependent manner in the PC and S1. These results suggest that developmental ethanol exposure alters the morphological development of pyramidal neurons within the male and female PC and S1, potentially affecting their normal function.