title: The expression of antioxidant enzymes in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase prevent cellular damage produced by free radicals. Our objective was to evaluate if prenatal alcohol exposure decreased the expression of antioxidant enzymes in the brain, liver, or placenta of fetal mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Timed, pregnant C57BL6/J mice were treated on gestational day 8 with intraperitoneal injection of alcohol (0.03 mL/g) or saline (control). Fetuses were harvested on gestational day 18. Fetal brain, liver, and placenta were analyzed for mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase by real-time polymerase chain reaction, with 18S RNA used as reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase expression was lower in fetal brains exposed to alcohol with no differences detected in the liver or placenta between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal alcohol consumption causes a decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase expression in the fetal brain. This may explain the long-term neurologic findings in fetal alcohol syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. nsdrever@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drever
authors.forename: Huaizhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Talar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kechichian
authors.forename: Maged
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantine
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bytautiene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002374:Catalase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000201:enzymology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase