Transgenerational effects of paternal alcohol exposure in mouse offspring

Experimental animal studies and epidemiologic investigations report the developmental toxicity associated with alcohol that paternal alcohol consumption caused retardation of growth, malformations, reduction of body weight, and mortality in offspring. Although numerous studies on paternal alcohol exposure showed transgenerational effects, the toxic effects varied widely due to differences in the way of exposure to alcohol, and in the endpoints assessed in each study. In the current study, we investigated transgenerational toxicities in offspring, both in fetal and postnatal stages with paternal exposure to various alcohol concentrations. Agenesis and skull malformation (exencephaly) were clearly observed in fetuses by paternal exposure. We also found that paternal alcohol exposure affected major organ weights of postnatal offspring. Our findings suggest that paternal alcohol consumption prior to conception represents a potential risk to fetal and postnatal development.