Hormonal and metabolic responses to
ethanol consumption were studied in pregnant Swiss Webster mice and their fetuses. On day 10 of pregnancy, mice were assigned to one of three liquid diet groups: 36%
ethanol-derived calories fed ad libitum (ETOH); control liquid diet fed ad libitum (control); control liquid diet administered in the same amount as that consumed by the ETOH group on the same day of pregnancy [pair-fed controls (PF)]. Dams were killed on days 14-18 of pregnancy, and fetuses were collected on days 16-18. Serum mouse
placental lactogen-II (mPL-II),
prolactin (mPRL),
growth hormone (mGH),
insulin, and
glucose concentrations were determined for each group.
Ethanol consumption resulted in a significant reduction in
fetal weight on day 18 of pregnancy. The maternal serum mPRL concentration was reduced in ETOH mice on days 16 and 17 of pregnancy when compared with control mice, but when compared with PF mice, it was significantly reduced only on day 16. Maternal and fetal serum
insulin concentrations were reduced in ETOH mice when compared with control mice, but it is unclear whether this was a specific effect of
ethanol consumption or due to reduced food intake. Maternal serum
glucose concentrations were reduced in the ETOH mice but not as severely as in the PF mice.
Ethanol consumption had no effect on maternal or fetal serum mPL-II and mGH concentrations. These data confirm that
ethanol consumption during pregnancy results in
fetal growth retardation, but they do not indicate any major effects of
ethanol on mPL-II, mPRL, mGH, and
insulin concentrations in either the mother or fetus.