TERATOGENIC EFFECT OF MATERNAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON THE MOUSE FETUS

Abstract
During pregnancy C3H mice were solely kept on a 10 or 20% liquid supply. They had free access to solids. All animals, including controls, were chloroformed on the 19th day of pregnancy and the fetuses were examined for growth regardation, intrauterine death and microscopic malformations. There was a significantly higher incidence of malformations and intrauterine deaths and significant retardation compared to the control animals. There was a clear dose-effect relation. The malformations were localized to the facial skeleton, CNS, eyes and lungs.