Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces mandibular calcium and phosphorus concentrations in newborn rats

J Oral Sci. 2016;58(3):439-44. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.16-0061.

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure affects fetal bone development, including bone quality. This study evaluated the chemical composition of mandibles from newborn rats after maternal 20% alcohol consumption before and throughout gestation. Nine rats were initially distributed into three groups: an Alcohol group, Pair-fed group, and Control group. The groups were fed prespecified diets for 8 weeks before and the 3 weeks during pregnancy. At age 5 days, eight newborns from each group were euthanized (total, n = 24). Using energy dispersive spectrometry, we evaluated samples of mandibles from newborns to identify changes in bone mineralization, specifically Ca and P concentrations. Ca and P concentrations were lower in the Alcohol group than in the Control and Pair-fed groups (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). In summary, alcohol exposure before and throughout gestation reduces mandibular Ca and P concentrations in newborn rats. (J Oral Sci 58, 439-444, 2016).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Ethanol / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Mandible / drug effects*
  • Mandible / metabolism
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Phosphorus
  • Ethanol
  • Calcium