[Effect of ethanol on ovulation, reproduction and fetal development in the rat]

Single doses of ethanol (0.5 and 4 g/kg) were injected at 18 h of the diestrus, 9 h of the proestrus and 18 h of the estrus phase (first day of pregnancy). The ovarian cycle number of ovules and ovarian follicles, insemination, number of embryos, fetal development and the observed malformation were evaluated. Alcohol (4 g/kg) at 18 h of the diestrus, increased the receptive estrus phase and the number of mature follicles in the ovary, while it decreased the number of ovulations, pregnancies and embryos in rats. It was found that alcohol (4 g/kg) at preovulatory periods, increased the percentage of dead and malformed fetuses, and decreased the length of the higher limbs. Furthermore, the same doses of alcohol administered at the first day of pregnancy, produced a decrease in weight, size and length of the legs. Results showed that single doses of alcohol injected in preovulatory periods and first day of pregnancy, had a teratogenic action. Furthermore, alcohol inhibited ovulation and stimulated animal receptibility when administered at 18 h of diestrus.