title: Effect of acute, multiple-dose ethanol on maternal and fetal blood gases and acid-base balance in the near-term pregnant ewe.
abstract: The effect of ethanol on maternal and fetal blood gases and acid-base balance was determined in six conscious instrumented near-term pregnant ewes for maternal intravenous infusion of 3 g ethanol/kg total body weight administered as six doses of 0.5 g ethanol/kg total body weight over 8 h. Maternal and fetal blood ethanol concentrations, determined in two animals, were maximal at 8 h (3.74 and 3.82 mg/mL, respectively) and were virtually identical during the 24-h study. Maternal and fetal blood gases and acid-base balance were not significantly altered during and after ethanol administration compared with preinfusion values. The data demonstrate that, during near-term ovine pregnancy, the equivalent of a binge-type drinking episode does not produce fetal hypoxia or acidosis. Furthermore, these data do not support the postulated involvement of ethanol-induced fetal hypoxia in the mechanism of ethanol teratogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brien
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patrick
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000431:Ethanol