Maternal Adrenocorticotropin, Cortisol and Thyroid Hormone Responses to Chronic Binge Alcohol Exposure throughout Gestation: Ovine Model

Maternal Adrenocorticotropin, Cortisol and Thyroid Hormone Responses to Chronic Binge Alcohol Exposure Throughout Gestation: Ovine Model. (December 2007) Ursula Tress, D.V.M. Veterinary University Leipzig, Germany Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Timothy A. Cudd This study investigated the effect of chronic alcohol exposure on the responses of the maternal hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and thyroid hormones throughout gestation using an ovine model. Maternal plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol and the thyroid hormones T3, free T4 and total T4 were determined in response to infusion of 0.75, 1.25 and 1.75 g/kg alcohol. Maternal endocrine responses to alcohol administration have been investigated before in rodent models. However, this is the first study using a large animal model (sheep), in which all three human trimester equivalents occur in utero. Different concentrations of alcohol were administered intermittently from gestational day 4 to 132 in a pattern that modeled human binge drinking during pregnancy. Maternal blood samples were collected on specific days (GD 6, 40, 90, 132) and at multiple time-points (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 6, 24 hours) and were analyzed to determine blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) and ACTH, cortisol, free T4, total T4 and T3 plasma concentrations.