Giang, S. E. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Developmental Alcohol Exposure Alters Domains of Executive Function in Rodents

Both prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and adolescent alcohol exposure (AAE) persistently impair executive function in humans and animal models. Executive function encompasses multiple interrelated domains including working memory, inhibitory control, and behavioral flexibility. We hypothesized that a developmental "double hit" of PAE and AAE would produce more severe behavioral deficits associated with these executive domains compared to alcohol-naive and single-exposed animals. We tested this hypothesis in rats by assessing disinhibition (low-light elevated plus maze; LL-EPM), behavioral flexibility (attentional set shift test; ASST), and working memory (spontaneous alternations in a T-maze); we also tested behavioral flexibility (ASST) in mice. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats received water or 5 g/kg alcohol from gestational day (GD)13.5-GD20.5, and offspring received water or 5 g/kg alcohol on a 2-day-on, 2-day-off paradigm from postnatal day (PD)25 to PD54. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice received water or 4.5 g/kg alcohol from GD13.5-GD17.5, and offspring received water or 4.5 g/kg alcohol on a 2-day-on, 2-day-off paradigm from PD25 to PD42. Offspring underwent behavioral testing in young adulthood. Double hit rats showed more exploration in the LL-EPM than controls and fewer alternations in the T-maze than AAE-only rats, suggesting deficits in disinhibition and spatial working memory, respectively. Double hit rats and mice exhibited more errors and/or more trials to criterion in the ASST, indicative of decreased behavioral flexibility. Overall, double hit animals showed altered performance on tests related to executive function, suggesting that the combined exposure alters executive function in a manner distinct from single-exposure models.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2023

Sale of critically endangered sharks in the United States

Shark meat is widely available in the United States in grocery stores and seafood markets. The meat is often mislabeled or generically labeled as "shark". The ambiguity of these generic labels makes it challenging to assess the conservation implications of this practice and for consumers to avoid species with high mercury concentrations. For this study we purchased and DNA barcoded 30 shark products purchased in the United States to determine their species identity and conservation status. These samples consisted of 19 filets sold in grocery stores, seafood markets, and Asian specialty markets (mostly in North Carolina) and 11 ordered online as "jerky". 70% of samples were "soft mislabeled" (i.e., labeled generically as shark but not as a specific species). Of the nine samples labeled to species, eight were mislabeled (e.g., spinner shark labeled as mako shark). Only one sample was correctly labeled. All 30 samples were identified as shark and came from 11 different species, including three species listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered: great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, and tope. The first two species have been found to contain very high levels of mercury, illustrating the implications of seafood mislabeling for human health. The widespread availability of shark meat in U.S. grocery stores is surprising given the dramatic decline of shark populations globally. Moreover, the fact that nearly all shark meat is either mislabeled or not labeled to species amplifies the problem. Accurate, verified product labels for shark meat would benefit consumers and shark conservation efforts, and should be a priority for the seafood industry.

genetics↗