Teratogenic potential of ethanol in mice, rats and rabbits.

Pregnant CF-1 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits were given 15% ethanol in their drinking water during the period of major organogenesis, from day 6 through 15 of gestation in mice and rats and days 6 through 18 of gestation in rabbits. Maximum blood alcohol levels, measured in non-pregnant animals, were about 200 mg percent in mice and 25-50 mg percent in rats and rabbits. Maternal toxicity in the form of decreased liquid intake and decreased maternal body weight occurred in all species during the experimental period. A significant increase in the incidence of external or soft tissue alterations was not observed in the alcohol-exposed groups of any species, but a significant increase in minor skeletal variants was observed in mice and rats. These were probably due to retarded fetal growth rather than to a specific effect of the ethanol. Teratogenic effects were not observed in any of the three species.