Ultrastructure of Insulin Secretory Granules and Insulin Content of Fetal Pancreas Exposed to Ethanol in utero in the Rat

Abstract

Fetal rat pancreata exposed to ethanol in utero were examined for morphometric analysis of insulin secretory granules and insulin content. The β-cells contained both dark and light granules, and their volume density was unaltered by maternal ethanol ingestion during pregnancy. The insulin content of pancreata of newborn rats was nearly equal in control and experimental animals. The study indicates no adverse effect of maternal ethanol ingestion on fetal pancreatic insulin concentration and insulin secretory granules.