Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces mandibular calcium and phosphorus concentrations in newborn rats
Isabel C S Carvalho1, Carolina da S M Martinelli, Noala V M Milhan
1Research and Development Institute, Laboratory Dynamics of Cellular Compartments, University of Paraiba Valley.
Insights
Prenatal alcohol exposure significantly lowers calcium and phosphorus levels in newborn rat mandibles. This study highlights the detrimental effects of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal bone development and mineralization.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure is a known risk factor for developmental abnormalities.
- Alcohol's impact on fetal bone development and quality requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effects of maternal alcohol consumption on the chemical composition of newborn rat mandibles.
- To determine changes in calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in mandibles due to prenatal alcohol exposure.
Main Methods:
- Maternal rats were exposed to 20% alcohol solution before and during gestation.
- Mandible samples from 5-day-old rat pups were analyzed using energy dispersive spectrometry.
- Calcium and phosphorus concentrations were measured to evaluate bone mineralization.
Main Results:
- Mandibular Ca and P concentrations were significantly lower in the alcohol-exposed group compared to control and pair-fed groups.
- Statistical analysis confirmed a significant reduction in Ca (P = 0.003) and P (P = 0.001) levels.
Conclusions:
- Maternal alcohol consumption before and during gestation adversely affects mandibular bone mineralization in newborn rats.
- Reduced calcium and phosphorus concentrations indicate impaired bone quality resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure.
Abstract:
Previous studies suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure affects fetal bone development, including bone quality. This study evaluated the chemical composition of mandibles from newborn rats after maternal 20% alcohol consumption before and throughout gestation. Nine rats were initially distributed into three groups: an Alcohol group, Pair-fed group, and Control group. The groups were fed prespecified diets for 8 weeks before and the 3 weeks during pregnancy. At age 5 days, eight newborns from each group were euthanized (total, n = 24). Using energy dispersive spectrometry, we evaluated samples of mandibles from newborns to identify changes in bone mineralization, specifically Ca and P concentrations. Ca and P concentrations were lower in the Alcohol group than in the Control and Pair-fed groups (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). In summary, alcohol exposure before and throughout gestation reduces mandibular Ca and P concentrations in newborn rats. (J Oral Sci 58, 439-444, 2016).
More Related Videos
15:27Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development
Published on: July 13, 2014
19:57The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017