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  • Title: Chronic maternal methanol inhalation in nonhuman primates (Macaca fascicularis): reproductive performance and birth outcome.
    Author: Burbacher TM, Grant KS, Shen DD, Sheppard L, Damian D, Ellis S, Liberato N.
    Journal: Neurotoxicol Teratol; 2004; 26(5):639-50. PubMed ID: 15315813.
    Abstract:
    The present study was designed to characterize maternal reproductive performance and early offspring effects following exposure to methanol (MeOH) vapor in a nonhuman primate model. The two-cohort study design used 48 adult female Macaca fascicularis (24/cohort) monkeys exposed to 0, 200, 600, or 1800 ppm MeOH vapor for approximately 2.5 h/day, 7 days/week prior to breeding and throughout pregnancy. Maternal body weight measurement, clinical observations and health assessments were conducted routinely throughout the study. Menstrual cyclicity was monitored during the pre-breeding and breeding periods and timed matings were conducted with nonexposed males. Females were monitored closely during the last month of pregnancy. At birth, infant physical characteristics were measured and a newborn health assessment was conducted. Methanol exposure did not alter menstrual cycles, the number of breedings to conception or conception rate. A total of 34 live-born infants were delivered (control=8, 200 ppm=9, 600 ppm=8, 1800 ppm=9). One female each in the control and 600-ppm group delivered a stillborn infant and a cesarean section (C-section) was required to deliver a hydrocephalic infant who died in utero in the maternal 1800-ppm group. Although not statistically significant, five MeOH-exposed females were C-sectioned due to pregnancy complications such as uterine bleeding and prolonged unproductive labor. These complications were not observed in the control group. The mean length of pregnancy in the MeOH-exposed groups was significantly decreased by 6 to 8 days when compared to controls. There were no MeOH-related effects on offspring birthweight or newborn health status. The consistent reduction in length of pregnancy observed in the MeOH females may reflect a treatment effect on the fetal neuroendocrine system. Given that the fetal hypothalamic--pituitary-adrenal axis controls pregnancy length in most species, these results suggest a modest but significant effect of MeOH on the biochemical events that control the timing of birth.
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