Maternal diets affected ceramides and fatty acids in brain regions of neonatal rats with prenatal ethanol exposure

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Ceramide (Cer), known as apoptotic markers, increases with prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure, resulting in neuroapoptosis. Whether maternal nutrition can impact Cer concentrations in brain, via altering plasma and brain fatty acid compositions have not been examined. This study compared a standard chow with a formulated semi-purified energy dense (E-dense) diet on fatty acid composition, Cer concentrations, and apoptosis in plasma and brain regions (cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus) of pups exposed to EtOH during gestation. Methods: Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: chow (n = 6), chow + EtOH (20% v/v) (n = 7), E-dense (n = 6), and E-dense + EtOH (n = 8). At postnatal day 7, representing the peak brain growth spurt in rats, lipids, and apoptosis were analyzed by gas chromatography and a fluorometric caspase-3 assay kit, respectively. Results: Maternal E-dense diet increased total fatty acid concentrations (p < 0.0001), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p < 0.0001) in plasma, whereas DHA concentrations were decreased in the cerebellum (p < 0.03) of pups than those from chow-fed dams. EtOH-induced Cer elevations in the hippocampus of pups born to dams fed chow were reduced by an E-dense diet (p < 0.02). No significant effects of maternal diet quality and EtOH were observed on caspase-3 activity. No significant correlations existed between plasma/brain fatty acids and Cer concentrations. Discussions: Maternal diet quality affected fatty acid compositions and Cer concentrations of pups with prenatal EtOH exposure, differently. Maternal nutrition has the potential to prevent or alleviate some of the adverse effects of prenatal EtOH exposure.

KEYWORDS:

• Prenatal ethanol exposure
• maternal diet
• fatty acid composition
• ceramides
• apoptosis

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research Manitoba, Canada-Israel International Fetal Alcohol Consortium and Manitoba Graduate Scholarship.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the supplementary materials enclosed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Canada-Israel International Fetal Alcohol Consortium; Manitoba Graduate Scholarship: Research Manitoba.

Notes on contributors

Yidi Wang

Yidi Wang, MSc was a graduate student in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences.

Bradley A. Feltham

Bradley A. Feltham RD, MSc is a PhD student in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences.

Xavier L. Louis

Xavier L. Louis, PhD was a postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, a Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Michael N. A. Eskin

Michael N. A. Eskin, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Miyoung Suh

Miyoung Suh RD, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba, studying the impacts of nutrition on retina health. She is also a Principal Investigator in the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine and in the Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Manitoba.