Abstract
Two studies on the effect of acute ethanol administration during Days 9-12 of gestation showed significant fetal weight reduction (6%-8%) in rats from ethanol-treated dams compared to water controls. Maternal weight gains could not account for the differences. These effects of acute doses (3-4 g ethanol/kg body weight), given only during organogenesis, suggest that chronic ethanol exposure during gestation is not required for some developmental retardation to occur. What effect this retardation may have upon subsequent behavioral development remains to be determined.
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The authors wish to thank Dr. T. H. Shepard and J. C. Greenaway, Laboratory for Human Embryology, University of Washington, for their assistance. Supported by funds from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.
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Samson, H.H., Waterman, D.L. & Woods, S.C. Effect of acute maternal ethanol exposure upon fetal development in the rat. Psychobiology 7, 311–315 (1979). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326648
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03326648