Press Release: Frogs and Alcohol- Unlikely Pair Give Insights for Neurological Disorder
Marisa Bennett
No translator
Can a warning label on a bottle of alcohol perpetuate stigma? Indeed, Emily Bell, a researcher at Neuroethics Research Unit in Montreal Canada, and her colleagues believe that the well intentioned labels have been responsible for specific negative effects. Women and children experience this stigma because of the societal perceptions around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neurological disorder caused by early exposure to alcohol while in the womb. Over the years, there has been a rising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder’s prominence in the United States.
Based on the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) studies, the CDC estimates that approximately 1 percent of the United State’s population is affected by this disorder. Evidence also suggests that as many as 1 in 26 women report drinking more than four drinks at a time, according to the CDC. Despite the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the known ramifications, there is no consensus on acceptable alcohol limits and even controversy as to how much alcohol is acceptable. Madison Durbin, an undergraduate at Duquesne University, sought to address this social issue and explore whether minute quantities of alcohol could have measurable effects on development. Using baths with small doses of ethanol, an alcohol, and tadpoles, Madison found some intriguing results.
At first one may ask, why frogs? Madison hoped to translate the findings in the experiment to human development. This is possible because frogs share several common characteristics in development that can allow inferences to human development. These include several genes, morphology, and the endocrine system. In addition to these similarities, Madison chose to experiment with frogs because of the ease of controlling the exposure to alcohol and their development externally from the mother.
Having determined an ideal model organism, Madison and her colleagues, decided to expose tadpoles ten days after hatching to different concentrations of ethanol, an alcohol. The concentrations included 0.4 percent ethanol and 0.009 percent ethanol, alongside a control of filtered water. This first concentration was chosen because previous literature had noted that 1 percent was where observable malformations were no longer detectable. The 0.009 percent concentration was chosen to test if extremely low concentrations did alter development. Each of these concentrations explore whether small levels of alcohol could impact development, which would later be compared to the control with normally developed tadpoles.
After several weeks of exposure, experiments were done to test behavior, mass/morphology, and the corticosterone hormone. Corticosterone is a stress hormone and plays a vital role in the development from tadpole to frog, as found in a study by Dr. Leena Shewade, Dr. Daniel Buchholz and other collaborators from the University of Cincinnati. After completion of the treatments, the tadpoles were physically examined. Observations showed three significant differences between the tadpoles in the control group and in the group with low doses of ethanol.
First, in the 0.04 percent group, there was a significant increase in body mass and the mouth width, suggesting that alcohol exposure impacted physical development of tadpoles. Secondly, their findings indicated increased stress levels associated with the hormone corticosterone. High corticosterone levels have been linked to compromised immune systems as shown in a study, conducted at the University of California Riverside. This study found elevated levels of immune cells in frogs making them susceptible to pathogens and diseases. Lastly, while there were observed mass and corticosterone differences, there were no observed behavioral differences. With significant differences in body mass, morphology, and increased hormone levels, Madison’s findings suggest that there are measurable effects of early alcohol exposure.
The results indicated significant differences between the normally developed tadpoles and the tadpoles in 0.4 percent ethanol exposure. This suggests that there are altered outcomes due to alcohol exposure. The 0.4 percent concentration was lower than the previously expected safe level of alcohol on frog development. Low doses, although seemingly benign, can negatively impact development. While still preliminary, Madison’s results promote findings to encourage further exploration on low dose alcoholism on fetal development. Small amounts of drinks over the course of development may have consequences. To address the limitations of the frog model, further studies should be conducted to explore the potential impacts of low level alcohol consumption during pregnancy. With greater clarity, controversy and unknowns can be remedied with both informed mothers and public health policy.
SOURCES
- Data & Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/data.html#ref
- FASDs: Information for Women. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/women.html
- Bell, E., Andrew, G., Di Pietro, N., Chudley, A. E., N. Reynolds, J., & Racine, E. (2016). It’s a Shame! Stigma Against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Examining the Ethical Implications for Public Health Practices and Policies. Public Health Ethics, 9(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phv012
Las ranas y el alcohol: una combinación insólita que da pistas sobre un trastorno neurológico
MARISA BENNETT
CARINA BRIZUELA
¿Es posible que una etiqueta de advertencia en una botella de alcohol perpetúe el estigma? En efecto, Emily Bell, investigadora de la Unidad de Investigación en Neuroética de Montreal (Canadá), y sus compañeros creen que las etiquetas que fueron creadas con buenas intenciones han sido responsables de efectos negativos concretos. Las mujeres y los niños experimentan este estigma debido a las percepciones sociales en torno al Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal (TEAF). El Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal es un trastorno neurológico causado por la exposición temprana al alcohol al estar en el útero. A lo largo de los años, ha aumentado la consciencia sobre la importancia del Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal en los Estados Unidos.
Según los estudios del Instituto Nacional de la Salud (NIH), se estima que aproximadamente el 1% de la población de los Estados Unidos sufre este trastorno. Los datos también sugieren que hasta 1 de cada 26 mujeres afirma haber bebido más de cuatro copas a la vez, según los CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades]). A pesar de la prevalencia del Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal y de las ramificaciones conocidas, no hay consenso sobre los límites de alcohol aceptables, e incluso hay controversia sobre la cantidad de alcohol que es aceptable. Madison Durbin, estudiante de la Universidad de Duquesne, trató de abordar esta cuestión social y explorar si cantidades mínimas de alcohol podían tener efectos significantes en el desarrollo. Utilizando baños con pequeñas dosis de etanol, un alcohol, y renacuajos, Madison encontró algunos resultados intrigantes.
Al principio uno puede preguntarse, ¿por qué ranas? Madison esperaba trasladar los resultados del experimento al desarrollo humano. Esto es posible porque las ranas comparten varias características comunes en el desarrollo que pueden permitir inferencias al desarrollo humano. Entre ellas se encuentran varios genes, la morfología y el sistema endocrino. Además de estas similitudes, Madison eligió experimentar con ranas por la facilidad de controlar la exposición al alcohol y porque se desarrollan de forma externa a su madre.
Después de determinar un organismo modelo ideal, Madison y sus compañeros decidieron exponer a los renacuajos diez días después de la eclosión a diferentes concentraciones de etanol, un tipo de alcohol. Las concentraciones incluían un 0,4% de etanol y un 0,009% de etanol, junto con un control de agua filtrada. Se eligió esta primera concentración porque las investigaciones previas habían señalado que el 1% era el punto en el que ya no se detectaban malformaciones observables. Se eligió la concentración del 0,009% para comprobar si las concentraciones extremadamente bajas alteraban el desarrollo. Con cada una de estas concentraciones se busca explorar si pequeños niveles de alcohol pueden tener un impacto en el desarrollo, lo que posteriormente se compararía con el grupo de control de renacuajos con desarrollo normal.
Tras varias semanas de exposición, se realizaron experimentos para comprobar el comportamiento, la masa/morfología y la hormona corticosterona. La corticosterona es una hormona del estrés y desempeña un papel vital en el desarrollo de renacuajo a rana, como se descubrió en un estudio realizado por la Dra. Leena Shewade, el Dr. Daniel Buchholz y otros colaboradores de la Universidad de Cincinnati. Una vez finalizados los tratamientos, se examinaron los renacuajos a nivel físico. Las observaciones mostraron tres diferencias significativas entre los renacuajos del grupo de control y los del grupo con dosis bajas de etanol.
En primer lugar, en el grupo del 0,04% se produjo un aumento significativo de la masa corporal y de la anchura de la boca, lo que sugiere que la exposición al alcohol influyó en el desarrollo físico de los renacuajos. En segundo lugar, los resultados indicaron un aumento en los niveles de estrés asociados a la hormona corticosterona. Los niveles elevados de corticosterona se han relacionado con el impacto en el sistema inmunitario, como se demostró en un estudio realizado por la Universidad de California en Riverside. Este estudio descubrió niveles elevados de células inmunitarias en las ranas, lo que las hacía susceptibles a los patógenos y las enfermedades. Por último, aunque se observaron diferencias de masa y corticosterona, no se observaron diferencias de comportamiento. Con diferencias significativas en la masa corporal, la morfología y el aumento de los niveles hormonales, los hallazgos de Madison sugieren que la exposición temprana al alcohol produce efectos mensurables.
Los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas entre los renacuajos con desarrollo normal y los renacuajos expuestos al 0,4% de etanol. Esto sugiere que la exposición al alcohol da lugar a resultados alterados. La concentración del 0,4 por ciento era inferior al nivel de seguridad del alcohol previsto en el desarrollo de las ranas. Las dosis bajas, aunque aparentemente benignas, pueden tener un impacto negativo en el desarrollo. Aunque todavía son preliminares, los resultados de Madison promueven hallazgos para fomentar una mayor exploración sobre las dosis bajas de alcohol en el desarrollo del feto. Las pequeñas cantidades de alcohol a lo largo del desarrollo pueden tener consecuencias. Para hacer frente a las limitaciones del modelo de la rana, deberían realizarse más estudios para explorar los posibles impactos del consumo de alcohol en dosis bajas durante el embarazo. Con una mayor claridad, la controversia y las incógnitas pueden remediarse tanto al informar a las madres como al implementar políticas de salud pública.
FUENTES
- Data & Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/data.html#ref
- FASDs: Information for Women. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/women.html
Bell, E., Andrew, G., Di Pietro, N., Chudley, A. E., N. Reynolds, J., & Racine, E. (2016). It’s a Shame! Stigma Against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Examining the Ethical Implications for Public Health Practices and Policies. Public Health Ethics, 9(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phv012
Marisa Bennett
Can a warning label on a bottle of alcohol perpetuate stigma? Indeed, Emily Bell, a researcher at Neuroethics Research Unit in Montreal Canada, and her colleagues believe that the well intentioned labels have been responsible for specific negative effects. Women and children experience this stigma because of the societal perceptions around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neurological disorder caused by early exposure to alcohol while in the womb. Over the years, there has been a rising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder’s prominence in the United States.
Based on the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) studies, the CDC estimates that approximately 1 percent of the United State’s population is affected by this disorder. Evidence also suggests that as many as 1 in 26 women report drinking more than four drinks at a time, according to the CDC. Despite the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the known ramifications, there is no consensus on acceptable alcohol limits and even controversy as to how much alcohol is acceptable. Madison Durbin, an undergraduate at Duquesne University, sought to address this social issue and explore whether minute quantities of alcohol could have measurable effects on development. Using baths with small doses of ethanol, an alcohol, and tadpoles, Madison found some intriguing results.
At first one may ask, why frogs? Madison hoped to translate the findings in the experiment to human development. This is possible because frogs share several common characteristics in development that can allow inferences to human development. These include several genes, morphology, and the endocrine system. In addition to these similarities, Madison chose to experiment with frogs because of the ease of controlling the exposure to alcohol and their development externally from the mother.
Having determined an ideal model organism, Madison and her colleagues, decided to expose tadpoles ten days after hatching to different concentrations of ethanol, an alcohol. The concentrations included 0.4 percent ethanol and 0.009 percent ethanol, alongside a control of filtered water. This first concentration was chosen because previous literature had noted that 1 percent was where observable malformations were no longer detectable. The 0.009 percent concentration was chosen to test if extremely low concentrations did alter development. Each of these concentrations explore whether small levels of alcohol could impact development, which would later be compared to the control with normally developed tadpoles.
After several weeks of exposure, experiments were done to test behavior, mass/morphology, and the corticosterone hormone. Corticosterone is a stress hormone and plays a vital role in the development from tadpole to frog, as found in a study by Dr. Leena Shewade, Dr. Daniel Buchholz and other collaborators from the University of Cincinnati. After completion of the treatments, the tadpoles were physically examined. Observations showed three significant differences between the tadpoles in the control group and in the group with low doses of ethanol.
First, in the 0.04 percent group, there was a significant increase in body mass and the mouth width, suggesting that alcohol exposure impacted physical development of tadpoles. Secondly, their findings indicated increased stress levels associated with the hormone corticosterone. High corticosterone levels have been linked to compromised immune systems as shown in a study, conducted at the University of California Riverside. This study found elevated levels of immune cells in frogs making them susceptible to pathogens and diseases. Lastly, while there were observed mass and corticosterone differences, there were no observed behavioral differences. With significant differences in body mass, morphology, and increased hormone levels, Madison’s findings suggest that there are measurable effects of early alcohol exposure.
The results indicated significant differences between the normally developed tadpoles and the tadpoles in 0.4 percent ethanol exposure. This suggests that there are altered outcomes due to alcohol exposure. The 0.4 percent concentration was lower than the previously expected safe level of alcohol on frog development. Low doses, although seemingly benign, can negatively impact development. While still preliminary, Madison’s results promote findings to encourage further exploration on low dose alcoholism on fetal development. Small amounts of drinks over the course of development may have consequences. To address the limitations of the frog model, further studies should be conducted to explore the potential impacts of low level alcohol consumption during pregnancy. With greater clarity, controversy and unknowns can be remedied with both informed mothers and public health policy.
SOURCES
Data & Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/data.html#ref
FASDs: Information for Women. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/women.html
Bell, E., Andrew, G., Di Pietro, N., Chudley, A. E., N. Reynolds, J., & Racine, E. (2016). It’s a Shame! Stigma Against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Examining the Ethical Implications for Public Health Practices and Policies. Public Health Ethics, 9(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phv012