Effect of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal brain cell number and cell size
1979
Woodson, Phyllis M. | Ritchey, S.J.
The effects of alcohol intake on fetal brain development were examined during gestation. Cell numbers and cell size were assessed, and energy was studied as a contribution factor to depressed growth. Pregnant rats were fed either laboratory chow, chow plus ethanol as 15% of the water, or chow plus sucrose to provide equal energy as the rats consuming alcohol. Fetuses were removed on day 18 of gestation and fetal brains were taken surgically. The number of fetuses, fetal weights, and brain weights were lower in the ethanol consuming group, although these differences were not statistically different from the control groups. RNA and DNA per fetal brain and brain cell number were significantly lower in the ethanol group. The decreased parameters of brain development appear to be the result of alcohol intake and not the result of a decreased energy intake.
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