Alcohol induces premature differentiation of:
Ethanol exposure disrupts maintenance of neural crest stemness by increasing intracellular free radicals and altering histone acetylation, prompting premature exit from multipotent state. Normal neural crest cells undergo extensive migration before differentiating into craniofacial cartilage, peripheral ganglia and melanocytes, requiring precise timing control by Wnt and BMP signals. Early differentiation depletes migratory pool, causing insufficient colonization of facial prominences and pharyngeal arches. Markers of differentiation such as neurofilament and melanin appear early in vitro afte
Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 20: Alcohol induces premature neural crest differentiation.
