Effects of ethanol on the inner layers of chick retina during development

Optic nerve hypoplasia is an important malformation of the fetal alcohol syndrome whose teratogenic mechanisms are unknown. In our experimental model we have quantified the concentration of ethanol and acetaldehyde in the retina and vitreous humor of the developing chick. The effect of ethanol alone...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1997-07, Vol.14 (4), p.313-317
Main Authors: Chmielewski, C.E., Hernández, L.M., Quesada, A., Pozas, J.A., Picabea, L., Prada, F.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetaldehyde - metabolism
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Differentiation - drug effects
Central Nervous System Depressants - pharmacology
Chick Embryo
Ethanol - pharmacology
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Hypoplasia
Immunohistochemistry
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Electron
Optic nerve
Retina - drug effects
Retina - embryology
Retina - ultrastructure
Toxicology
Vitreous Body - metabolism
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Summary:Optic nerve hypoplasia is an important malformation of the fetal alcohol syndrome whose teratogenic mechanisms are unknown. In our experimental model we have quantified the concentration of ethanol and acetaldehyde in the retina and vitreous humor of the developing chick. The effect of ethanol alone during retinal development was analyzed by conventional histological techniques and by immunostaining. A single injection of ethanol in the vitelline sac at the beginning of retinal cell differentiation retarded synaptogenesis in the inner plexiform layer and produced abundant ganglion cell death and a sharp diminution of myelinic axons. Our observations could help to explain certain alterations described in children exposed to ethanol during the development of their nervous system.
ISSN:0741-8329
1873-6823
DOI:10.1016/S0741-8329(97)87948-7