Ultrastructural and morphometrical peculiarities of embryo and fetus brainsynaptogenesis under conditions of prenatal ethanol exposure

Abstract

The method of electron microscopy and morphometry have been used to study peculiarities in formation of the structure of human embryo and fetus brain synapses at early stages (7 to 12 weeks) of development at mother alcoholization. Electron microscopy of material obtained from alcoholic women has shown slowing-down of formation of synaptic structure. Morphometry has revealed that under the influence of prenatal alco holization the formation of components of synaptic brain contacts slows down at 9—12 th weeks of development: the area of presynaptic terminals and their perimeter decreases, and the perimeter of postsynaptic densities decreases as well.