(P10-045-24) Impact of Postnatal Choline Supplementation on Lipid Profiles and Liver Function Markers in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Rodent Model

Objectives: Choline, an essential nutrient crucial for central nervous system function, is being examined as a potential treatment for young with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This study investigates the effects of postnatal choline supplementation on alcohol-exposed Sprague Dawley rats using an FASD animal model, assessing on physiological development through serum lipid profiles, liver function markers, body weight and liver weight.

Methods: This study used 2 (Ethanol, Sham) x 2 (Choline, Saline) x 2 (Male, Female) design. Fifty-eight Sprague Dawley rat pups randomly assigned to ethanol exposure of 5.25 g/kg/day by gastric intubations or sham during early postnatal development (PD 4-9), equivalent to late gestation in humans. Treatments of choline chloride or saline were administered to subjects 100 mg/kg/day from PD 10-30. Blood samples and liver tissue were collected on PD36.

Results: Males exhibited significant weight gain with greater final body weight and liver weight compared to females (P < 0.001). Developmental ethanol exposure reduced weight gain (P=0.039) compared to the sham control group. Concerning lipid profiles, females exhibited a higher trend in HDL levels (P=0.070) compared to males. There was a trend toward a sex and choline interaction on LDL, as choline treatment reduced LDL in males (P=0.076). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were higher in males than females (P=0.007), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels exhibited a trend toward a sex and choline interaction, with lower LDH in choline-treated males but higher in females (P=0.081).

Conclusions: These findings elicit a complexity to the interactions among fetal alcohol exposure, choline supplementation, and physiological outcomes, particularly in the context of weight gain, lipid profiles, and enzyme levels. More research is needed to further understand the physiological changes and what impact choline supplementation may have on the liver function. Understanding the effects of choline on physiological outcomes is critical for elucidating mechanisms and potential therapeutic implications of choline supplementation in mitigating the detrimental effects of fetal alcohol exposure on physiological development.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA012446 (JDT).