title: T lymphocyte populations in fetal alcohol syndrome.
abstract: There are reports that fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is associated with immune deficiency or DiGeorge syndrome. To investigate the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on the immune system, we used a mouse model of FAS in which C57BL/6J female mice were fed a complete liquid diet containing 25% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) from gestational day (g.d.) 1 to 18. Thymus cell numbers were markedly reduced in 18-day fetuses exposed to ethanol. Thymocytes from fetuses from the 25% EDC diet group and from pair-fed and ad-libitum control diet groups were compared by flow cytometry for expression of T cell differentiation antigens. The proportions of L3T4- and Lyt-2 positive thymus cells were significantly reduced in alcohol-exposed fetuses compared to controls; however, the number of Thy-1-positive cells did not differ among any of the groups. Six-day old neonates exposed prenatally to ethanol from g.d. 1 to 13 had thymus and spleen T cell populations similar to those of controls in almost all cases, indicating a "catch-up" of T cell numbers in most animals. Spleen T cell function, assessed by response to Concanavalin A (Con A), or Con A plus T cell growth factors, was somewhat depressed in ethanol-exposed 6-day pups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ewald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte