Morphometric-interferometric investigations of neurons in the medial thalamic nucleus of newborn rats following maternal treatment with ethanol.

The nucleus and cell size, as well as the dry weight and protein contents of neurons in the medial thalamic nucleus of newborn rats, exposed to ethanol in utero, were examined on the first day of postnatal life. Comparison was made with a control group of animals, not exposed to ethanol. No significant changes in the protein content and dry weight values were observed. The perikarya of neurons from animals exposed to ethanol were significantly larger than those of the controls. The findings indicate that the nucleus and perikaryon are affected differently by alcohol, following intrauterine exposure.