Cardioteratogenic dose of ethanol in the chick embryo results in albumin ethanol concentrations comparable to human blood alcohol levels.
Three-day-old chick embryos (Hamburger-Hamilton stages 18-19) were exposed to a dose of ethyl alcohol (0.32 ml of 50% ethanol) that causes cardiac malformations in 96.6% of the animals. Ethanol was administered into the air sac after 72-80 h of incubation. Samples of albumin at the opposite pole of the egg were drawn 0-50 h after treatment and quantitated for ethanol concentration with capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Ethanol concentrations in the albumin increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 2, 5 and 15 h after injection of ethanol, reached a maximum mean ethanol concentration at 20 h (217.3 +/- 23.5 mg dl-1), decreased significantly at 30 h to 175.4 +/- 27.5 mg dl-1, then increased again and stabilized at 40-50 h. Individual sample concentrations ranged from 0 mg dl-1 (at 0.5-2 h) to 286.5 mg dl-1 at 40 h. Ethanol concentrations in the albumin were comparable to human blood alcohol levels during intoxication (> 150 mg dl-1). Our results suggest that a potent cardioteratogenic dose of ethanol in the chick embryo is reasonable in terms of potential human embryo exposure.
Bruyere
H J
HJ
University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy, Laramie.
Choudhury
S
S
Nelson
E
E
Stith
C E
CE
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
D013723:Teratogens; D000431:Ethanol; D010047:Ovalbumin