Cardioteratogenic dose of ethanol in the chick embryo results in egg white concentrations comparable to human blood alcohol levels.
Three-day-old chick embryos were exposed to a dose of ethyl alcohol (0.32 ml of 50% ethanol) that we previously demonstrated produces cardiac malformations in 96.6% of the animals. Ethanol was administered into the air sac at 72-80 h of incubation. Samples of egg white were drawn at 2, 6 and 24 h after treatment and analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Ethanol concentrations were significantly higher at 6 and 24 h after exposure than at 2 h (P less than 0.01), but there were no differences in mean concentrations between 6 and 24 h (P greater than 0.2). Furthermore, concentrations (43-303 mg dl-1) were comparable to human blood alcohol levels during intoxication. These results suggest that the cardioteratogenic doses of ethanol administered to chick embryos in a previous study are not excessive in terms of potential human embryo exposure.
Bruyere
H J
HJ
School of Pharmacy, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071.
Kapil
R P
RP
D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004529:Egg White / Q000032:analysis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D013723:Teratogens / Q000378:metabolism*
D013723:Teratogens; D000431:Ethanol