Effects of alcohol on intrauterine oxygen tension in the rat.
The effects of alcohol on the availability of oxygen within the uterine lumen of rats were determined on Day 4 of pseudopregnancy. Intraluminal oxygen tension (pO2) was measured in vivo in anesthetized rats using a 22-gauge polarographic oxygen sensor. Intrauterine pO2 was measured for 15 min before and after intravenous injection of alcohol (1.0 g/kg: 100% ethanol/saline, 1:2v/v) or vehicle (physiological saline). Alcohol administration increased mean intrauterine pO2 (mm Hg) from a pretreatment level of 28.3 +/- 2.8 to 38.7 +/- 3.8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05, n = 10) at 15 min postinjection. The rapid rise in oxygen tension was accompanied by increased frequency of fluctuation (peaks/hr) in intraluminal pO2 (prealcohol: 64.2 +/- 8.8 vs. postalcohol 96.0 +/- 7.7 peaks/hr; (p less than 0.05, n = 10). Injection of saline did not alter any aspect of intrauterine pO2. During the period of measurement of luminal pO2, blood alcohol levels increased from 0 during pretreatment to 106 mg% within 10 min of injection. These results indicate that alcohol increases the availability of oxygen within the uterus during the time of endometrial sensitivity to deciduogenic stimuli and blastocyst implantation.
Mitchell
J A
JA
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
Van Kainen
B R
BR
D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D000431:Ethanol; D010100:Oxygen