Practice question

Developmental toxicology testing for fetal alcohol spectrum relies on mammalian placental models recapitulating ethanol metabolism via alcohol dehydrogenase, generation of acetaldehyde, reactive oxygen species and pharmacokinetics comparable to human exposure. Mice exhibit craniofacial features resembling human fetal alcohol syndrome including midfacial hypoplasia, micrognathia, growth retardation and neurobehavioral deficits following gestational ethanol dosing during gastrulation or organogenesis. Genetic tractability allows investigation of L1CAM adhesion, Sonic hedgehog interaction. While rats show similar effects, mice provide best characterized mammalian system demonstrating human-like FAS defects following prenatal alcohol exposure.