Prenatal ethanol consumption increases retinol and cellular retinol-binding protein expression in the rat fetal snout

Fetal exposure to ethanol disrupts normal craniofacial development, resulting in characteristic features of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). One mechanism that could result in some anomalies of this syndrome is through ethanol disrupting the regulatory role played by vitamin A in fetal development, thereby inducing morphological alterations which manifest as FAS. This work begins to explore a possible interaction of ethanol with vitamin A in craniofacial development. Retinoid levels and the expression of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR) mRNA were determined in snouts of 20-day fetuses exposed to ethanol throughout gestation, compared to controls. Snout retinol and retinyl palmitate levels were elevated in fetuses of ethanol-treated rats, but retinoic acid levels were unaffected. The expression of CRBP mRNA, as determined by Northern analysis, was greater in snouts of fetuses exposed to ethanol, but there was no change in RAR alpha, beta, gamma or retinoid X receptor beta mRNA. These results demonstrate that prenatal ethanol consumption can alter certain markers of vitamin A metabolism and function in the fetal snout.