7. Artificial Rearing
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Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts development, leading to a range of effects referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
(FASD). FASDs include physical, central nervous system, and behavioral alterations. Animal model systems are used to study
the relationship between alcohol-related central nervous system damage and behavioral alterations, risk factors for FASD,
mechanisms of alcohol-induced damage, as well as treatments and interventions. When using a rodent model, it is important
to recognize that the timing of brain development relative to birth differs between humans and rodents. Thus, to model alcohol
exposure during the third trimester equivalent, rats must be exposed during early postnatal development (postnatal days 4-9).
Artificial rearing is one experimental paradigm that is used to expose neonatal rats to alcohol during this period of brain
development. Neonatal rat pups are housed in an artificial rearing environment and automatically fed a milk diet substitute
via an intragastric cannula to ensure adequate growth during the treatment period. Alcohol is delivered in the milk diet.
This chapter provides a description of the methods needed for this administrative technique, including preparation of the
artificial rearing environment, gastrostomy surgery, and care of artificially reared rat pups.
Affiliation(s): (3) Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Book Title: Alcohol: Methods and Protocols
Series: Methods in Molecular Biology | Volume: 447 | Pub. Date: May-02-2008 | Page Range: 85-100 | DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-242-7_7
Subject: Biochemistry
Key Words: Fetal alcohol syndrome - central nervous system - development - intragastric infusion - ethanol
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