title: Ethanol effect on the ionic transfer through isolated human amnion. II. Cellular targets of the in vitro acute ethanol action and of the antagonism between magnesium, taurine and ethanol.
abstract: The ultrastructure of the human amniotic membrane from normal pregnancies at term, was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The results were analysed by a stereological method which indicates the ratio between the area of intercellular spaces (R1), microvilli (R2) and podocytes (R3) versus the cell area. Addition of ethanol (0.4 g/l) in the external medium decreased R1 and R3 and had no significant effect on R2. Ethanol reduced intercellular space and podocyte exchange surface. Two mM MgCl2 or 2 mM taurine restored R1 and R3 to normal values. The cellular targets of the antagonism between Mg, taurine and ethanol are particularly intercellular spaces and podocytes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology of Reproduction, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guiet-Bara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bara
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001692:Biological Transport; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D013654:Taurine; D000431:Ethanol; D008274:Magnesium