The effects of ethanol on development and morphogenesis of the mammalian embryos at the stage of early organogenesis and the role of free radicals in this effect

The excessive maternal alcohol drinking results in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which is a pathology caused by the embryotoxic effects of ethanol in prenatal period. The mechanisms of ethanol action at the cellular or molecular levels are scarce. In this study it was aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol on growth and development of mammalian embryos as well as the morphological structure and the role of free radicals on these effects. Wistar rats were obtained from the Selcuk University Experimental Medicine Research Center and their 9.5 days embryos were explanted and cultured for 48 hours in rat serum. Whole rat serum used as a culture medium fort he control group while different concentrations of ethanol (250-500 mg%) were added tor at serum fort he experimental groups. Also, the lowest effective concentration of ethanol for all parameters was added to the culture media in the presence of an antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD). Ten embryos were used for each experimental condition. Dose-dependent effects of ethanol on embryonic developmental parameters such as; total morphological score, yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, somite number, embryo and yolk sac protein contents were compared using morphological and biochemical methods. Each embryo was evaluated for the presence of any malformations. Compared to the control embryos, ethanol significantly decreased all developmental parameters döşe-dependently (p<0.05) with an increase in overall dismorphology. The haematoma in different regions, especially in the neural tube was most frequently observed. When the SOD was added to theculture media in the presence of ethanol, growth and developmental parameters were improved (p<0.05) and there was a decrease in the incidence of malformations (p<0.05). A döşe dependant developmental toxicity of ethanol on rat embryos during organogenesis wasdetermined, these effects might involve free oxygen radicals.