[In utero ethanol exposure alters the mitochondrial protein expression of fetal mouse cerebrum]

To probe the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on the mitochondrial protein expression in fetal mouse cerebrum.

Pregnant CD-1 mice were given 5.0 g/kg ethanol intragastrically from pregnant days (PD) 6-15. Fetal cerebral mitochondria were isolated on PD 18. The overall mitochondrial protein was applied to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed protein spots were cut off and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Activities of respiratory chain complex IV (72.3%+/-4.6% of control) and ATP synthase, and ATP content in the fetal cerebral cells were measured.

Expressions of some constructional and functional proteins were altered by in utero ethanol exposure. Activities of respiratory chain complex IV and ATP synthase (80.3%+/-5.1% of control) were both decreased. ATP content (67.9%+/-3.9% of control) in the cerebral cells was reduced in the in utero ethanol exposure fetuses.

In utero ethanol exposure affects the mitochondrial protein expression of fetal mouse cerebrum, even in the tissue without obvious morphological malformations, which may be a possible mechanism of behavioral defects found in children with prenatal ethanol exposure.