Prenatal ethanol exposure alters brain structure, functional connectivity, and behavior in humans and rats. Behavioral changes include deficits in executive function, which requires cooperative activity between the frontal cortices and other brain regions. In this study, we analyzed the functional connectivity and neurochemical levels of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in ethanol-exposed (Eth) and control (Ctr) rats. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (2.1-6.46% v/v ethanol) from gestational days 6 to 21 (Eth). Ctr animals received an isocaloric, isonutritive liquid diet. In young adulthood, male and female offspring underwent in vivo MRI using a 7.0-Tesla system. 1H-MRS from the PFC and whole brain rsfMRI were obtained on the animals. Seed-based functional connectivity analysis was performed with seeds placed in the PFC, matching the voxel of MRS. Male, but not female, Eth rats showed less functional connectivity between PFC and dorsal striatum than Ctr animals. In Eth males glucose levels were significantly lower, and in Eth females lower levels of phosphorylcholine but an increased gamma-aminobutyric acid/glutamate ratio were observed in the PFC compared with Ctr animals. Prenatal ethanol alters brain metabolism and functional connectivity of the PFC in a sex-dependent manner.

中文翻译：

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胎儿酒精性光谱失调大鼠模型中内侧前额叶皮层的功能连通性和代谢变化：静止状态功能磁共振成像和体内质子磁共振光谱研究。

产前乙醇暴露会改变人类和大鼠的大脑结构，功能连通性和行为。行为改变包括执行功能的缺陷，这需要额叶皮层和其他大脑区域之间的合作活动。在这项研究中，我们在乙醇暴露的（Eth）和对照中使用静止状态功能磁共振成像（rsfMRI）和质子磁共振波谱（1H-MRS）分析了前额叶皮层（PFC）的功能连接性和神经化学水平。点阅率）大鼠。从妊娠第6到21天（Eth），给怀孕的Long-Evans大鼠喂食含乙醇（2.1-6.46％v / v乙醇）的流质饮食。Ctr动物接受了等热量，等营养的流质饮食。在成年后，使用7.0-Tesla系统对雄性和雌性后代进行了体内MRI检查。在动物上获得了来自PFC的1H-MRS和全脑rsfMRI。基于种子的功能连接性分析是通过将种子放入PFC中进行的，匹配MRS的体素。与Ctr动物相比，雄性Eth大鼠在PFC和背侧纹状体之间的功能连接性较差。与Ctr动物相比，在Eth雄性中，葡萄糖水平显着降低，而在Eth雌性中，磷酰胆碱的水平降低，但γ-氨基丁酸/谷氨酸比例增加。产前乙醇以性别依赖性方式改变PFC的脑代谢和功能连接性。与Ctr动物相比，第九只大鼠的PFC和背侧纹状体之间的功能连接较少。与Ctr动物相比，在Eth雄性中，葡萄糖水平显着降低，而在Eth雌性中，磷酰胆碱的水平降低，但γ-氨基丁酸/谷氨酸比例增加。产前乙醇以性别依赖性方式改变PFC的脑代谢和功能连接性。与Ctr动物相比，第九只大鼠的PFC和背侧纹状体之间的功能连接较少。与Ctr动物相比，在Eth雄性中，葡萄糖水平显着降低，而在Eth雌性中，磷酰胆碱的水平降低，但γ-氨基丁酸/谷氨酸比例增加。产前乙醇以性别依赖性方式改变PFC的脑代谢和功能连接性。