Ossification of the vertebral column in the offspring of rats exposed to alcohol, acetaldehyde and caffeine

The embryopathic effects of alcohol have been widely studied in humans and laboratory animals. However, the role of risk factors remains largely unknown. Whereas skeletal abnormalities are often present in the offspring of alcoholic mothers, these have not been fully documented. This report is concerned specifically with the development of the vertebral column in rats exposed in utero to ethanol, its primary metabolite acetaldehyde, and caffeine. Our results indicate a possible causal association between alcohol abuse and ossification anomalies of the vertebral column. Maternal treatment with caffeine accelerated ossification in the sacro-caudal vertebrae. Caffeine combined with ethanol only moderately affected the development of the centra and arches.