CURRENT RESEARCH:
FETAL ALCOHOL
SPECTRUM DISORDER
DAVID GILLIAM
SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Facial features of FAS
Intellectual disabilities and delayed development; Learning disorders;
Abnormal behavior: short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control
Mouse
Human
White arrows (left) and black arrows (right) indicate damaged corpus callosum.
A and B are normal; C-F show damage from prenatal alcohol exposure.
We are interested in studying how alcohol
affects all phases of brain development
We use ethanol vapor inhalation to expose
mouse pups to alcohol
Vapor Inhalation of Alcohol
Mean Open-Field Activity at Age 35-38 Days
2500
Control
Ethanol
= SEM
Total Distance (cm)
2000
1500
1000
500
1
Block
2
3
1
Block
2
3
1
Block
2
3
1
Block
2
0
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
3
Mean Open-Field Activity at Age 150-153 Days
1600
Control
Ethanol
= SEM
Total Distance (cm)
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
-----Day 1-----
------Day 2------
-----Day 3-----
-----Day 4-----
1
4
7
10
2
3
5
6
8
5-Minute Blocks
9
11
12
We are now developing a method to examine how learning and
memory are affected by developmental exposure to ethanol vapor.
Above, you will see the components of the test apparatus.
Water Maze Platform Locations
Mouse Finds Platform
Mouse Searches
Platform Area
As a student in my laboratory you will learn
to:
1)Handle mice
2)Use vapor ethanol exposure chamber
3)Test mice in water maze
4)Record and analyze data
5)Write report
Contact Dave Gilliam at:
970 351-2951
McKee 15a
david.gilliam@unco.edu