Organ growth and cellular development in ethanol-exposed rats.
Effects of perinatal exposure to ethanol on growth and cellular development were investigated. Alcohol was administered in liquid diets designed to provide optimal nutrition during pregnancy. Pair-fed and ad lib control groups were included. The 3 groups of females were similar in body weight during gestation and lactation, and offspring weights were similar on gestation Day 21 and at birth. By Day 9 of lactation control pups weighted more than both alcohol and pair-fed pups which were similar in body weight. Weights of brain, heart, liver and kidney were reduced in alcohol pups compared to pair-feds and controls. Decreased liver weight reflected both decreased cell size and decreased protein content, but was primarily due to decreased caloric intake. Decreased heart weight appeared to result from a direct effect of ethanol on heart protein content. Even more marked were the adverse effects of ethanol on kidney protein content and kidney DNA (reflecting a decrease in cell number). In contrast, although both absolute brain weight and DNA content were decreased in ethanol-exposed offspring, relative brain weight was increased. Finally, maternal ethanol consumption significantly increased relative placenta weights as well as placental DNA and protein content.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000431:Ethanol