Preterm Fetal Malformations and Placental Abnormalities Induced by Periconceptional Alcohol Ingestion during the First Half of Pregnancy in CD-1 Mouse

LETICIA PEREZ TITO; FIGUEIRA MENDES C; MORAES S; CEBRAL E; BEVILACQUA E.

Santiago de Chile

Congreso; IFPA Meeting 2010 Placenta - Fetus and Placenta: a perfect harmony; 2010

IFPA

Gestational ethanol consumption disrupts fetal development increasing the teratogenic outcomes and postnatal growth retardation. The objective was to study the effects of perigestational alcohol ingestion up to first half of pregnancy on preterm fetal and placental growth and external fetal malformations. Methods: adult CD-1 females were exposed to 10% ethanol for 15 days previous and up to 4 (TF-D4), 8 (TF-D8) or 10 (TF-D10) days of gestation, following replacement ethanol by water up to day 18 of pregnancy. Control groups (CF) were performed with water. Fetus and placentae were weighted, measured and fixed for external malformations and skeletal alizarin red and histology (H-E). Results: the number of implantation (no.) site (IS) of TF-D8 and TF-D10 was increased vs IS-CF (p<0.01), the total and early resorptions were elevated and the birth index (alive fetus Nr/IS Nr) was reduced in all treated groups vs CF (p<0.05). Mean placental weight was diminished in TF-D4 and TF-D10 vs CF (p<0.05) and histological alterations were found. The mean fetal weight decreased in TF-D10 vs CF (p<0.05) without changes in the mean fetal sizes. The % of total malformed fetus was increased in all treated groups (p<0,001), whereas the malformations found were: TF-D4: facial (ear implantation defect); TF-D8: facial and members, TF-D10: craniofacial, members and lower abdominal wall, CF: facial anomalies. Cranial skeletal (exencephaly) and member defects were confirmed by Alizarin analysis. Conclusion: perigestational ingestion of moderate ethanol up to 4, 8 or 10 day of pregnancy induces at term, increased risk of early miscarriages and fetal growth restriction and external craniofacial malformations. Although the period of alcohol exposure more susceptible for fetal growth retardation and dysmorphology was the organogenesis, alcohol ingestion up to preimplantation was able to induce facial defects and suggesting that this early gestational phase in CD-1 mouse is alcohol-susceptible.