The effect of ethanol upon early development in mice and rats. XVIII. In vivo effect of acute preimplantation intoxication with beer and cognac on the background of chronic biparental intake (in mice).

The effect of acute preimplantation intoxication with beer and cognac, on the background of chronic biparental consumption, was investigated in mice (controlled on day 4 of pregnancy), by using the following criteria: mean number of embryos/animal; oviductal-uterine migration of embryos; developmental rate; number of pathologically modified embryos. It resulted that both beverages used have a noxious effect upon preimplantation development, producing: retardation of oviductal-uterine migration and the increase of the number of pathologically modified embryos. Although the experimental model applied represents a maximal schedule of beverage administration (chronic biparental + acute), the effects were not enhanced as compared with previous results obtained by a less "forced" administration (chronic maternal + acute).