Adverse Effects of Alcohol on Pregnancy and Its Outcome ? A Study on Mice

Background- For centuries, social studies all over the world have shown that maternal drinking during pregnancy can have serious adverse effects on the health of the newborn. Alcohol-related damage to the fetus has been linked with every form of drinking pattern, from heavy drinking to intermittent as well as moderate social drinking i. e. one or two drinks daily most days during pregnancy, and from very infrequent, but relatively heavy, drinking to one single drinking binge prior to pregnancy recognition. Objective-The present work was undertaken to study the possible teratogenic effects of ethanol exposure on developing mice embryos, its dose effect relationship and the time effect relationship. Material & Method- 36 Pregnant mice were administered alcohol orally with a syringe and cannula. The dose effect was studied by choosing two doses of alcohol, and the time effect relationship with a particular dose is given during total gestational period (0-18 days) or during major organogenesis period (6-15 days). The 189 fetuses, delivered by caesarean section, were examined for gross anomalies. Result & Conclusion- It was concluded that the resorptions, intrauterine growth retardation, limb anomalies like ectrodactyly, wrist drop, club foot and curly tail were the major adverse effects of ethanol.