Ann Snyder, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Vice Chair Ph.D. 1971, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Office: 2.176 Phone:847-578-8804 Fax:847-578-3268 Email:ann.snyder@rosalindfranklin.edu

Glial and neuronal glucose transport and metabolism; Neurotoxic effects of alcohol; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Fuel-mediated teratogenesis

Interactions between alcohol and carbohydrate metabolism may have profound effects in the developing and the mature individual. Our past research utilizing a rat model of the fetal alcohol syndrome has shown effects on placental glucose transfer and on circulating and tissue glucose levels and the hormonal environment. We have also demonstrated effects of alcohol on glucose uptake and utilization using invitro systems, including brain cell cultures from fetal and neonatal rats and whole rat embryos cultured during organogenesis. The goal of our current studies is to characterize changes are induced by alcohol in the expression of glucose transporter genes during organogenesis, in brain cell cultures and in the neonatal rat brain and to relate these effects to alterations of glucose n utilization and cell functionality and viability.

This research is supported by the national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism.