BACKGROUND Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), methylmercury (MeHg), and lead (Pb) are environmental contaminants known for their adverse effects on cognitive development. OBJECTIVES In this study we examined the effects of prenatal exposure to PCBs, MeHg, and Pb on cognitive development in a sample of Inuit infants from Arctic Québec. METHODS Mothers were recruited at local prenatal clinics....

BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to cocaine can be deleterious to embryonic brain development, but the results in humans remain controversial, the mechanisms involved are not well understood and effective therapies are yet to be designed. We hypothesize that some of the prenatal effects of cocaine might be related to dysregulation of physiological rhythms due to alterations in the integrating circa...

The perspective that features of species-typical behavior could be traced to experience that occurred prenatally was raised by Zing-Yang Kuo [1921 Journal of Philosophy 18: 645-664] early in the last century and Gilbert Gottlieb subsequently elaborated on and provided empirical support for this idea over the course of more than four decades of innovative psychobiological research. Although we a...

Prenatal skeletal muscle development genetically determines postnatal muscle characteristics such as growth and meat quality in pigs. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying prenatal skeletal muscle development remain unclear. Here, we performed the first genome-wide analysis of chimeric RNAs, single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs) and allele-specific expression (ASE) in prenatal skeletal mus...

BACKGROUND Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are widely used in agriculture and homes. Animal studies suggest that even moderate doses are neurodevelopmental toxicants, but there are few studies in humans. OBJECTIVES We investigated the relationship of prenatal and child OP urinary metabolite levels with children's neurodevelopment. METHODS Participating children were from a longitudinal birt...

Prenatal androgen shapes genital differentiation. In humans, genital anatomy determines sex of rearing and subsequent behavioral development. Rhesus monkey genital anatomy and neuroendocrine function are sexually differentiated, and behavioral development occurs in a complex social environment. We investigated prenatal hormonal influences on sexual differentiation by suppressing or increasing a...

Several studies have shown the disruptive effects of non-competitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists on neurobehavioural development. Based on the neurodevelopment hypothesis of schizophrenia, there is growing interest in animal models treated with NMDA antagonists at developing stages to investigate the pathogenesis of psychological disturbances in humans. Previous studies hav...

PRENATAL STRESS ALTERS SINGLE-TRIAL CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE IN ADOLESCENT RATS Stephanie L. Karsner, M.A. George Mason University, 2011 Thesis Director: Dr. Robert F. Smith Early environmental and behavioral experiences can affect development during adolescence and even adulthood. Prenatal effects can result in lasting changes on the nervous system and behavior. Gestational stress has been...

Breathing is a vital rhythmic behavior generated by hindbrain neuronal circuitry, including the preBötzinger complex network (preBötC) that controls inspiration. The emergence of preBötC network activity during prenatal development has been described, but little is known regarding inspiratory neurons expressing pacemaker properties at embryonic stages. Here, we combined calcium imaging and elec...

Myopia is amongst the most common refractive errors in the world. Both environmental and genetic factors are attributed to its causation, however all factors contributing to the development of myopia is yet to be found. Recent studies show presence of sex hormone receptor in the eyes. This has been shown to have a role in the development of various ocular pathologies. The second to fourth finge...