Homeostasis changes induced by the action of ethanol on the materno-fetal complex in rats. V. Late fetal effects of acute intoxication during the preimplantation period.

The late fetal effect of ethanol administered during the preimplantation period (in acute experiment) was investigated. Ethanol was injected i.v. (33.16% v/v in a.d., 4.80 ml/kg b.w.) to pregnant female rats on day 2 and 4 of pregnancy. Some effects concerning biochemical and morphological homeostasis on at-term fetuses (day 20 of pregnancy) were studied. Data obtained were compared with those of the control group. Biochemical investigation performed on hepatic DNA and on some serum metabolites revealed the following statistically non-significant changes: the increase of fetal hepatic DNA; the increase of total protein determined from pooled fetal serum of the whole litters; hypoalbuminemy and hyperglobulinemy; hypo-alpha 1-globulinemy and hyper-alpha 2-, beta-, gamma-globulinemy; the increase of total lipids, decrease of cholesterol; increase of uric acid and urea. In the amniotic fluid the following statistically non-significant values were found: increase of proteins, lipids, uric acid and urea content and decrease of cholesterol. Ponderal somatometry evidenced a statistically significant decrease of fetal and placental wet weight. The changes found show that--in our experimental conditions--the i.v. administration of ethanol during the preimplantation period does not significantly influence the late, fetal biochemical values and induces a significant lowering of fetal and placental wet weight and a significant increase of late fetal mortality.