Ultrastructural changes in preputial neural tissues: effects of maternal drinking.
Peripheral nerves in the prepuces of eight newborns were studied in this investigation. The mothers of four of these newborns were alcohol abusers but did not smoke or take coffee. The other four mothers did not drink alcohol or coffee, nor did they smoke. Using a transmission electron microscope, the peripheral nerves in preputial specimens were studied for pathological changes. In samples taken from the prepuces of those newborns with drinking mothers, the neuropathological changes seen were mainly in the unmyelinated axons. These demonstrated increased vesicular and tubular elements of agranular endoplasmic reticulum and dense bodies not found in the specimens taken from the non-drinking group. Other significant findings in the fetal preputial specimens from the alcohol group were aggregations of mitochondria and collagen entrapment.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation