[Neural tube dysraphia at the level of the midbrain in alcoholic embryopathy].

Forty-four 5-12-week embryos obtained from mothers who abused alcohol during pregnancy were examined for brain development. Six cases of dysraphia of the neural tube at the midbrain level were revealed. In two cases, it was defined as primary. This was confirmed by the impairment of neurulation in the neural tube, by the growth of the ends of the neural plate, not yet grown together (hyperplasia), and derangement of the mesoderm (partial cranioschisis). The use of alcohol might be the most probable cause that gave rise to dysraphia. In these cases, the teratogenic termination period was referred to the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. In 4 cases, the secondary rupture of the walls of the midbrain, i.e. secondary dysraphia of the traumatic genesis was established.