Teratogenic potential of ethanol in mice, rats and rabbits

Abstract

Pregnant CF‐1 mice, Sprague‐Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits were given 15% ethanol in their drinking water during the period of major organogenesis, from day 6 through 15 of gestation in mice and rats and days 6 through 18 of gestation in rabbits. Maximum blood alcohol levels, measured in non‐pregnant animals, were about 200 mg percent in mice and 25–50 mg percent in rats and rabbits. Maternal toxicity in the form of decreased liquid intake and decreased maternal body weight occurred in all species during the experimental period. A significant increase in the incidence of external or soft tissue alterations was not observed in the alcohol‐exposed groups of any species, but a significant increase in minor skeletal variants was observed in mice and rats. These were probably due to retarded fetal growth rather than to a specific effect of the ethanol. Teratogenic effects were not observed in any of the three species.