Ethanol consumption during gestation promotes placental alterations in IGF-1 deficient mice

Background: During pregnancy, the placenta is an extremely important organ as it secretes its own hormones, e.g. insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), to ensure proper intrauterine fetal and development. Ethanol, addictive widely used drug, has numerous adverse effects during including restriction (FGR). To date, molecular mechanisms by which ethanol triggers toxic particularly in placenta, are not entirely known. For this reason, a murine model of partial IGF-1 deficiency was determine alterations placental morphology AAH expression. Methods: Heterozygous (HZ, Igf1+/-) female mice were given 10% 14 days acclimation period throughout pregnancy. HZ water controls. At gestational day 19, pregnant dams sacrificed, placentas collected genotyped for subsequent studies. Results: consumption pregnancy altered morphology, decreased efficiency aspartyl/asparaginyl ?-hydroxylase (AAH) expression from all genotypes. No differences found Igf1, Igf2, Igf1r Igf2r mRNA groups. Conclusions: gestation development, suggesting crucial role establishment adequate environment that allows growth. However, more studies needed study precise mechanism stablish relation between both insults.