[Embryotoxic effect of ethanol and its biotransformation products in cultures of postimplantation rat embryos].

A study was made of the effect of ethanol (6.5-108 mM) and its immediate metabolite, acetaldehyde (4.5 microM-45 mM) on 9.5-day-old rat embryos cultivated in vitro. Biotransformation of the nontoxic concentration of ethanol (17 mM) to teratogenic products was made by addition to the culture medium of a soluble fraction of the rat liver (0.2-0.55 mg protein/ml), NAD (0.25 mM) and sodium pyruvate (2.3 mM). Malformations obtained after biotransformation of ethanol were similar to those obtained after direct action of acetaldehyde. The roles of acetaldehyde and ethanol in the etiology of fetal alcoholic injury are discussed.