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Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development
Published on: July 13, 2014
Acute ethanol administration causes malformations but does not affect cranial morphometry in neonatal mice
Olusegun Olufemi Oyedele1, Beverley Kramer
1Embryonic Differentiation and Development Research Programme, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2193 South Africa. olusegun.oyedele@wits.ac.za
Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy did not significantly increase craniofacial or skeletal defects in term mouse fetuses. However, potential latent effects and postnatal recovery warrant further investigation into fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Teratology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Ethanol is a known teratogen linked to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
- Previous studies on ethanol-induced craniofacial anomalies primarily used postnatal radiographic evaluation in rats, neglecting soft tissue contributions.
- Assessing craniofacial development requires comprehensive analysis of both hard and soft tissues in fetuses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities in full-term mouse fetuses following maternal ethanol exposure.
- To compare digital measurements of entire heads (soft and hard tissue) with stained skeletal tissues in treated and untreated groups.
- To investigate the impact of acute maternal alcohol ingestion during critical gestation periods on fetal development.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered 25% ethanol (vol/vol) on gestation days 6-8; control groups received water.
- Fetuses were retrieved at gestation day 18 (term) for digital photography and measurement.
- Cranial soft and hard tissues were analyzed, alongside stained skeletal tissues, for abnormalities and ossification defects.
Main Results:
- Ethanol-exposed fetuses exhibited abnormalities like anophthalmia and agnathia, but not at statistically significant levels compared to controls.
- No significant differences were observed in birth weight, crown-rump length, or mandibular length between exposed and control fetuses.
- Skeletal defects and delayed ossification were noted in ethanol-exposed animals, though these findings did not reach statistical significance (P=.14).
Conclusions:
- Acute maternal ethanol exposure in mice during early gestation may not result in significant term craniofacial or skeletal defects.
- Observed defects might be latent, potentially manifesting postnatally.
- Further research is needed to explore the postnatal recovery capacity of mice from alcohol-induced developmental abnormalities.
