Ultrastructural changes in the mouse fetal choroid plexuses following chronic maternal alcoholization

Female mice (RAP strain) were alcoholized for 30-50 days before mating and during pregnancy until killing, with a 20% solution of ethanol administered instead of drinking water. From foetuses of 16, 18 and 20 days and from newborn puppies (day 1) choroid plexuses were excised and electronmicroscopically examined. Chronic maternal alcoholization induced the lowering of glycogen content in the choroid cells of 16 day old foetuses, the swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria with the disappearance of cristae and enlargement of the Golgi complex--in the choroid cells at all the developmental stages controlled, the enlargement of intercellular spaces within the choroid epithelium and between the capillaries and the epithelial layer. The changes detected are presumedly due to disturbances of intracerebral fluid homeostasis and may be responsible for at least some of the CNS pathology observed in alcohol embryo- and fetopathy.