Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors block alcohol-induced fetal hypoplasia.

Alcohol-induced growth retardation is a fetal effect consistently associated with maternal ethanol consumption. In humans, those infants whose mothers consume even a limited amount of ethanol during pregnancy have a significant incidence of growth inhibition. The molecular mechanism responsible for this growth deficiency is unknown, and prevention depends on maternal abstinence during pregnancy. The data reported here suggest that ethanol-mediated increases in tissue prostaglandin (PG) E levels (PGE1 plus PGE2) are correlated with the growth retardation. Further, simultaneous administration of PG synthesis inhibitors with the alcohol blocks the rise in tissue PG levels and protects against the alcohol-induced hypoplasia.