title: Effect of maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy on the phospholipid molecular species composition of fetal guinea-pig brain, liver and plasma.
abstract: The effect of maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy upon accumulation of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n - 3)) into developing brain phospholipids was determined in a guinea-pig model of fetal alcohol syndrome. Feeding adult guinea-pigs 6 g/kg per day ethanol both before and throughout pregnancy was associated with decreased 22:6(n - 3) concentration in both fetal brain phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) at 40/68 days gestation and at term. Since adequate assimilation of 22:6(n - 3) into fetal brain is critical for optimal neuronal development, reduced accumulation of 22:6(n - 3) into phospholipids may be one important mechanism for ethanol-induced brain damage. Liver from ethanol-exposed fetuses contained significantly lower concentrations of both PC and PE 22:6(n - 3)-containing molecular species. However, there was no difference in plasma PC polyunsaturated fatty acid content in ethanol-exposed fetuses compared with controls. One possible explanation for impaired 22:6(n - 3) accumulation into ethanol-exposed fetal brain phospholipids may be the result of the action of inappropriate mechanisms which counteract ethanol-induced increased membrane fluidity by reducing the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of brain phospholipids.
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Burdge
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Postle
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000032:analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids