Maternal Ethanol Ingestion Effects on Fetal Rat Brain Vitamin A as a Model for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
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| Authors: | Mary A. Grummer Rebecca E. Langhough Richard D. Zachman |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Meriter PerinatalCenter, Madison, Wisconsin.;Department of Biostatistics, University of Wisconsin-Meriter PerinatalCenter, Madison, Wisconsin.;Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Meriter PerinatalCenter, Madison, Wisconsin. |
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| Abstract: | Fetal embryo, head, and brain tissue from different gestational age were analyzed for retinol content, nuclear retinoic acid receptor and cytosolic retinoic acid binding protein levels after maternal ethanol ingestion and compared with fetal levels in control diet pregnancies. Retinol levels in fetal embryo and brain of ethanol-ingesting pregnancies were 2- to 3-fold higher than fetal embryo and brain of ethanol-ingesting pregnancies were 2-to 3-fold higher than fetal embryo and retinol of control pregnancies. Nuclear retinoic acid receptor was lower in 10-day embryo of ethanol pregnancies and apparently unaffected in fetal head and brain by maternal ethanol consumption at other days of gestation. In fetal head there was a significant overall ethanol effect on cytosolic retinoic acid binding protein, with increased levelsin fetal tissue from ethanol-consuming pregnancies. These observations of altered embryo, fetal head, and fetal brain retinol and receptor protein levels support the hypothesis of a possible role of vitamin A in fetal alcohol syndrome. |
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| Keywords: | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Retinol Brain Retinoic Acid Receptors |
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