Nakhoul Marie R, Seif Karl E, Haddad Natasha, Haddad Georges E
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, D.C, USA.
J Alcohol Drug Depend. 2017 Feb;5(1). doi: 10.4172/2329-6488.1000257. Epub 2017 Feb 28.
Alcohol has always been present in human life, and currently it is estimated that 50% of women of childbearing age consume alcohol. It has become increasingly clear over the last years that alcohol exposure during fetal development can have detrimental effects on various organ systems, and these effects are exerted by alcohol through multiple means, including effects on free radical formation, cellular apoptosis, as well as gene expression. Fetal alcohol exposure can lead to a spectrum of short term as well as long-term problems, with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome being on the more severe end of that spectrum. This syndrome is morbid, yet preventable, and is characterized by midfacial hypoplasia, thin upper lip, widely spaced small eyes, long smooth philtrum and inner epicanthal folds. Other findings include growth restriction as well as various neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This article is the first comprehensive review combining the molecular as well as the gross physiological and anatomical effects of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on various organ systems in the body. Our knowledge of these various mechanisms is crucial for our understanding of how alcohol exposure during fetal development can lead to its detrimental effects.
酒精一直存在于人类生活中，目前估计有50%的育龄妇女饮酒。在过去几年中，越来越清楚的是，胎儿发育期间接触酒精会对各种器官系统产生有害影响，而酒精通过多种方式发挥这些作用，包括对自由基形成、细胞凋亡以及基因表达的影响。胎儿接触酒精会导致一系列短期和长期问题，胎儿酒精综合征处于该谱系较严重的一端。这种综合征是病态的，但可预防，其特征为面中部发育不全、上唇薄、小眼间距宽、人中长而平滑以及内眦赘皮。其他表现包括生长受限以及各种神经发育异常。本文是第一篇综合综述，结合了孕期接触酒精对体内各种器官系统的分子、大体生理和解剖学影响。我们对这些各种机制的了解对于我们理解胎儿发育期间接触酒精如何导致其有害影响至关重要。
