Altered mineral metabolism as a mechanism underlying fetal alcohol syndrome in the rat

Journal Article · Wed Mar 05 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6787412

Zidenberg-Cherr, S; Hurley, L S; Keen, C L

The authors have observed that consumption of EtOH by dams fed diets low in Zn can result in small fetuses and a high incidence of fetal abnormalities. To test the hypothesis that EtOH alters maternal and fetal mineral metabolism, virgin female rats were fed liquid diets containing Zn at 2 ..mu..g/ml (low;LZn) 30 ..mu..g/ml (adequate;AZn), or 300 ..mu..g/ml (supplemented;SZn); EtOH contributed 0% kcals or 36% of kcals (EtOH). After 4 weeks females were bred and fed the same diets. Rats were killed on d21 of gestation; maternal and fetal tissues were collected. EtOH and fed AZn dams had plasma Zn levels which were 10% lower than their controls. Plasma Zn was similar between LZn and LZnEtOH dams; levels were 80% lower than in AZn dams. Plasma Cu was higher in EtOH fed dams than their controls; dams fed the SZn diets had low plasma Cu levels compared to all other groups. Fetal Zn increased with dietary Zn; levels were affected by EtOH only in the SZn group as levels were lower than their controls. Fetal Cu levels were not consistently affected by EtOH; levels were lower in the SZn groups than all other groups. Fetal Fe levels were higher in EtOH groups than their controls. These results show that EtOH affects fetal mineral metabolism supporting the hypothesis that this may be a mechanism underlying FAS. While induced Zn deficiency may be one component of this disorder it is evident that excess Zn supplementation may also be deleterious to the conceptus.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Davis
• OSTI ID: 6787412
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604222-
• Journal Information: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:4; ISSN FEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
ELEMENTS
ETHANOL
FETUSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RATS
RODENTS
TERATOGENESIS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
ZINC