How prenatal alcohol exposure harms hearing development
Cellular mechanisms of auditory processing deficits in a mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Researchers are looking at how alcohol exposure during pregnancy changes the brain cells that help process sound in mice, to better understand hearing problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses a mouse model where mothers voluntarily drink during pregnancy to mimic prenatal alcohol exposure. Scientists will examine auditory brain regions to see how parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons and their surrounding perineuronal nets develop. They will measure synaptic inhibition in the primary auditory cortex and inferior colliculus and record whether the auditory cortex becomes hyperexcitable in live animals. The aim is to link specific cellular and circuit changes to the auditory processing problems seen in FASD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to children and families affected by prenatal alcohol exposure or diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders who are concerned about hearing and auditory processing difficulties.
Not a fit: People without prenatal alcohol exposure or whose hearing problems come from unrelated causes (like genetic deafness or ear infections) are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to cellular targets and time windows for therapies to improve auditory processing in children with FASD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked prenatal alcohol exposure to GABAergic interneuron dysfunction and auditory deficits, but examining perineuronal nets and specific circuit hyperexcitability in the auditory system is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ragunathan, Padmashri — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ragunathan, Padmashri
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.