Effects of ethanol and/or caffeine on fetal development and placental amino acid uptake in rats

The effects of ethanol alone or in combination with caffeine on fetal viability, growth and placental amino acid uptake function in the rat were examined. Compared to pair-fed control values, chronic ethanol exposure reduced fetal survival by 24%, fetal weight by 17%, along with weight decreases of fetal brain (16%), heart (31%), and kidney (48%) as compared to pair-fed control values. Placental weight was significantly increased by 17%. Concomitant caffeine intake generally exacerbated these effects with a further reduction in fetal survival, fetal body and visceral weights. Caffeine intake alone had no consistent effect on these parameters. Acute in vitro (3 mg/ml) and chronic in vivo ethanol exposure reduced placental net uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) by 32 and 45%, respectively. Neither acute in vitro (10 μg/ml) nor prior chronic caffeine exposure altered villous AIB uptake. Concomitant ethanol and caffeine treatment increased AIB uptake as compared to ethanol alone. However, AIB uptake continued to be reduced (by 22%) as compared to pair-fed control values.