Effect Of Daily Alcohol Injection Of Pregnant Rats On The Developing Embryos

Abstract

In the present investigation; three doses; 0.002 (group I), 0.004 (group II) and 0.006 (group III) ml/gm body weight of 25%ethanol were used. Continuous IP injection of alcohol from day 7 through day 15 caused a significant decrease of viable embryos and mean embryonic body weight in groups I and II. In group III, no viable embryos were obtained. Injection of alcohol also caused a significant increase of resorption incidence of developing embryos as the dose increased. Continuous injection of alcohol from day 7 through day 15 of gestation caused some defects of the head region including hydrocephaly, narrow forehead, small eyes, reduced upper and lower jaws and absence of ears. Alcohol injection also caused some craniofacial anomalies including slight cleaving of upper Up, closely set nostrils and also produced extensive cellular damage of cerebral cortex.