Agmatine Reduces the Effects of “3rd Trimester” Ethanol Exposure on Balance Coordination and Deficits in Response to Social Cues in a Rodent Model: Agmatine Reduces the Effects of “3rd Trimester” Ethanol Exposure on Balance Coordination

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. In both human studies and animal models, balance and coordination are often impaired. This is explained, in part, because the cerebellum seems particularly sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. In our laboratory, we use a rodent model to study the effects of alcohol during a period of CNS development that overlaps the human 3rd trimester “brain growth spurt”. The present study examined the effects of neonatal alcohol exposure on balance in adolescent rats. In addition, we wanted to assess whether agmatine, which is neuroprotective, could reduce these deficits. Rat pups received alcohol twice daily on either postnatal days (PND) 1-7 or 8-15. Five treatment groups were included; alcohol, agmatine, alcohol plus agmatine (during alcohol withdrawal) and 2 controls. Subjects were tested on PND 31 to 33 on a task that required the use of balance and fine motor coordination. Alcohol exposure on PND 1-7 significantly impaired balance, and the addition of agmatine reduced these deficits. In contrast, exposure to alcohol on PND 8 – 15 had no effect on performance. These findings are very intriguing and provide further support for the possible use of agmatine to reduce brain damage in the developing CNS. This research also suggests that timing of alcohol and agmatine exposure (PND 1-7 or PND 8-15) play a critical role in predicting motor deficits