Ethanol exposure during pregnancy persistently attenuates cranially-directed blood flow in the developing fetus: Evidence from ultrasound imaging in a murine second trimester equivalent model

摘要

BackgroundEthanol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal growth retardation, mental retardation and neurodevelopmental delay. The fetal brain initiates neurogenesis and vasculogenesis during the second trimester, and depends on maternal-fetal circulation for nutrition and growth signals. We used high resolution in vivo ultrasound imaging to test the hypothesis that ethanol interferes with fetal brain-directed blood flow during this critical developmental period.