Conference Abstract › NMPSC 2015, Brighton, UK, 2-3 May 2015 › Effect of Chronic exposure of Losartan in Mouse Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) Model

Effect of Chronic exposure of Losartan in Mouse Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) Model

A.Takyi*, S. Fidalgo**, P. Gard***
School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ*, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ**, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ***

Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition that currently affects 1% of babies born in Europe and North America. It is characterised by memory impairment, developmental delay and distinctive facial features. This research uses a Mouse Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) model to explore the effects of PAE on learning, memory and to explore the potentially beneficial effects of common drugs previously shown to have cognitive enhancing effects in both humans and animals.

60 mice (M=30 F=30) C57 Breeding harem of mice, were exposed to 5% ethanol throughout pregnancy. After weaning the offspring received Losartan (10mg/kg) via their drinking water for eight weeks. At three months of age, learning and memory was assessed using the novel object recognition paradigm.

The results indicate that PAE caused a significant decrease in offspring body weight. Treatment with Losartan caused no growth impairment or renal damage. Novel object recognition indicated that PAE caused male offspring to spend significantly less time exploring the novel object than controls and that treatment with Losartan had the effect of improving awareness of the novel object both in the control and alcohol group; in addition to decreasing anxiety (p≤0.05). A significant opposite effect was noticed in the female alcohol progeny when compared to the male alcohol progeny (p≤0.05). Losartan in female alcohol progeny had no effect on anxiety. Overall, male control losartan spent more time exploring the novel object than male alcohol losartan (p≤0.05).

The results suggest that Losartan had no deleterious effects on the development of the animals, and was able to improve learning and memory in control animals without effect in PAE mice.

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A.Takyi, Fidalgo S, Gard P.. Available From : http://www.pediatriconcall.com/conference/abstract/34/view/839