Alcoholic women: inhibition of protein synthesis in the placenta

[4,5(3)H]L-Leucine incorporation into proteins in placental slices of alcoholic and normal women was measured in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, and on the day of birth. In this study, alcoholic women were defined as women who drink daily at least 150 ml, calculated as 100% ethanol. Leucine incorporation into proteins was significantly decreased in alcoholic women compared with normal placentas: 72% in the first, 70% in the second trimester, and 82% in term placenta. The data indicate that not only can chronic maternal alcohol consumption induce defects in protein synthesis, but also that heavy alcohol ingestion, even during the beginning of pregnancy, could be toxic for the human placenta and development of the fetus.