Objective: To probe the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on the mitochondrial protein expression in fetal mouse cerebrum.
Methods: Pregnant CD-1 mice were given 5.0 g/kg ethanol intragastrically from pregnant days (PD) 6-15. Fetal cerebral mitochondria were isolated on PD 18. The overall mitochondrial protein was applied to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed protein spots were cut off and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Activities of respiratory chain complex IV (72.3%+/-4.6% of control) and ATP synthase, and ATP content in the fetal cerebral cells were measured.
Results: Expressions of some constructional and functional proteins were altered by in utero ethanol exposure. Activities of respiratory chain complex IV and ATP synthase (80.3%+/-5.1% of control) were both decreased. ATP content (67.9%+/-3.9% of control) in the cerebral cells was reduced in the in utero ethanol exposure fetuses.
Conclusion: In utero ethanol exposure affects the mitochondrial protein expression of fetal mouse cerebrum, even in the tissue without obvious morphological malformations, which may be a possible mechanism of behavioral defects found in children with prenatal ethanol exposure.