Experimental study of umbilical cord length as a marker of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Umbilical cord length has long been investigated as a potential marker of intrauterine events that may place the neonate at risk for future adverse developmental sequelae. Experimentally, significantly shortened cords have been reported in association with prenatal exposure to common drugs of abuse. This study in rats reports the time course of effects on umbilical cord length of a daily maternal ethanol gavage (3,200 mg/kg) from gestational day 6 through termination of pregnancy at either day 17, 18, 19, or 20.

Unilateral suprainguinal ectopic scrotum: the role of the gubernaculum in the formation of an ectopic scrotum.

A rare case of ectopic scrotum is described together with a review of the literature and a discussion of the embryological role of the gubernaculum in the formation and location of normal and ectopic scrota. We identified 16 reported cases of a suprainguinal ectopic scrotum, 4 cases of a femoral ectopic scrotum, 26 cases of penoscrotal transposition, and 19 cases of a perineal (accessory) scrotum. Although the gubernaculum is a prerequisite for the ultimate location of both the testis and scrotum, its role is complicated by the subsequent differential growth of the labioscrotal folds in which the gubernaculum is stabilized.

The incidence of renal anomalies at full term in fetal rats is synergistically increased by estradiol (but not testosterone) supplementation on day 18 of alcoholic gestation.

Background/purpose: Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by facial dysmorphology, mental and growth retardation, and somatic anomalies including hydronephrosis. The authors sought to determine the influence of exogenous testosterone or estradiol on the incidence of hydronephrosis in a rodent model of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Methods: Pregnant rats were fed a liquid diet containing 35% ethanol-derived calories from gestation day 6 through 15, with exogenous testosterone or estradiol supplementation on day 18.

C-type virus particles in placentas of rhesus monkeys after maternal treatment with recombinant leukocyte A interferon.

Interferon inhibits the normal replication of C-type virus particles grown in vitro. The ability of interferon to produce a similar effect in vivo was tested in rhesus monkey placentas which are known to contain C-type virus particles. Samples of placenta from 6 monkeys treated with recombinant leukocyte A interferon (25 x 10(6) units/kg) for 7 to 21 days and from 6 control monkeys were examined in the electron microscope.

Tubuloreticular inclusions in placental chorionic villi of rhesus monkeys after maternal treatment with interferon.

Tubuloreticular inclusions were observed in placental chorionic villi of rhesus monkeys after pregnant female monkeys were injected intramuscularly with recombinant leukocyte A interferon (25 X 10(6) units/kg). They were identified in endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and Hofbauer cells of the chorionic villi, providing evidence that interferon crossed at least part of the maternal-fetal partition. Induction of tubuloreticular inclusions in these cells by exogenous interferon has not been previously reported.