Examination of dendritic morphology in the mPFC has also revealed changes induced by ethanol exposure during development. Postnatal ethanol exposure from PD 2 to 6 via inhalation resulted in decreased basilar dendritic endpoints and length in layer II pyramidal neurons resulting in a simplification of the dendritic arbor (Granato et al., 2003). Similarly, postnatal exposure from PD 4 to 9 via intragastric intubation resulted in reductions in basilar length and branching as well as an increase in mature spines in both sexes (Whitcher and Klintsova, 2008). Apical dendrites in the same set of animals exposed to ethanol from PD 4 to 9 demonstrated significant reductions in spine density without changes in dendrite length (Hamilton GF et al., 2010). These latter two studies examined spines on limited portions of the dendrites and so conclusions regarding distribution of spines cannot be drawn. Together, these findings suggest reduced synaptic targets and decrements in function in the mPFC after exposure to ethanol during development.
