Maternal Iron Nutriture Modulates Placental Development in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes developmental abnormalities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Maternal iron status modulates the severity of these defects in the offspring. Because the placenta is central in supporting fetal development, we investigated if maternal iron status similarly modulates alcohol’s effects in the placenta. We hypothesized that PAE causes placental insufficiency by decreasing placental weight and efficiency, and these are worsened by maternal iron deficiency (ID) and alleviated by dietary iron-fortification (IF). We also determined whether altered placental iron flux and inflammatory balance contribute to placental insufficiency. Pregnant Long-Evans rats consumed an ID (2-6 ppm), iron-sufficient (IS; 100 ppm), or IF (500 ppm) diet. Alcohol (5g/kg body weight) or isocaloric maltodextrin (MD) was gavaged daily from gestational day (GD) 13.5-19.5. Placental outcomes were evaluated on GD20.5. PAE reduced fetal weight (P