The Impact of Gestational Alcohol on the Trabecular Bone Structure of the Mandible in 3-Week-Old Sprague Dawley Rats

Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause several diseases, belonging to an umbrella of disorders known as Fetal Alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is linked to reduced birth weights, shorter bones, delayed bone growth, decreased bone resilience, and delayed ossification of the bones. However, the specific effects on the craniofacial bones, particularly the mandible, remain less explored. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of gestational alcohol consumption on mandibular structure. Time-mated pregnant Sprague Dawley dams were divided into an ethanol group (n=6) and a saline control group (n=6). The ethanol group was given 0.015ml/g of 25.2% ethanol, while the control group received 0.9% saline for the first 19 days of gestation. The presence of a vaginal plug indicated the first day of gestation.After birth, the pups were euthanized at three weeks of age, and their mandibles were harvested and analyzed using a 3D-mCT scanner to assess bone ratio, trabecular thickness, number, and spacing. Osteometric measurements for mandibular length and height were also taken. The study found no significant differences in trabecular morphometric parameters between the groups. However, one parameter for mandibular length (Cd-Bi) and two parameters for mandibular height (Cd-Ag and Cr-Ag) were significantly smaller in the ethanol group than in the controls. The study reveals that gestational alcohol consumption can significantly affect the development of the mandible, with potential implications for understanding the mechanisms behind alcohol-induced teratogenicity. The findings highlight the need for further research to explore the intricate interactions between embryological, biological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that contribute to the varied effects of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on different skeletal systems.