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EL Abel and HB Greizerstein
Ethanol (6 g/kg/day) produced intrauterine growth retardation (both body weight and length) in rat fetuses compared to pair-fed controls. Associated with this retardation was an increase in fetal body water and sodium content and a decrease in lipid-free solid content. Comparable electrolyte changes were not observed in maternal blood. These effects in fetal body content are not commonly observed in fetal malnutrition studies and are suggestive of a direct teratogenic effect of ethanol.