title: Early onset of parturition induced by acute alcohol exposure in C57BL/6J mice: role of uterine PGE and PGF2alpha.
abstract: These studies were designed to determine the effect of acute alcohol treatment on gestational length and to probe for a mechanism underlying alcohol-induced early onset of parturition (EOP) in mice. Experiment 1: alcohol increases the incidence of EOP. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were given alcohol (0, 4, 5 or 6 g kg(-1), i.g.) on Gestational Day (GD) 10, 15, 16, 17 or 18. Deliveries were monitored every 6 h from GD 18. Results indicated that 6 g kg(-1) alcohol treatment on GD 17 or 18 increased the incidence of EOP. Experiment 2: prostaglandins (PGs) play roles in parturition. The purpose of Experiment 2 was to determine whether PGs mediate alcohol-induced EOP in mice. The results indicated that pretreatment on GD 17 with aspirin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, prevented alcohol-induced EOP. These data suggest that alcohol-induced EOP in mice may be mediated by PGs. Experiment 3: PGs are influenced by alcohol and are triggers of labour. Experiment 3 measured uterine PGs associated with the onset of alcohol-induced EOP in mice. Alcohol increased uterine PGE and PGF2alpha, with PGE levels higher than control before labour, and elevated PGF2alpha levels correlating with labour. Changes in gestational length have important implications for pregnancy outcome, as well as for normal fetal growth and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. jlc21@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Randall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000502:physiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011458:Prostaglandins E; D000431:Ethanol; D015237:Dinoprost; D001241:Aspirin