Evidence that gonadal hormone levels in amniotic fluid are decreased in males born to alcohol users in humans.

Biochemical evaluation of amniotic fluid content is often used to monitor fetal secretory and excretory functions. It is known that alcohol freely passes through the placenta and enters the fetal tissues. The study was designed to investigate whether alcohol use during pregnancy affects amniotic fluid steroid and peptide hormone levels. Five alcohol users who drank between 40 and 45 drinks per month and consumed approximately 1 oz. of alcohol per day from beer drinking participated in the study. Thirteen controls with no history of alcohol use including essential and non-essential drugs were selected for the study. The final selection of participants was made among those who delivered male offsprings. Amniotic fluid was aspirated between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation by amniocentesis and an aliquot was used to assay steroid hormones (4-androstenedione [-4-AD], testosterone [T], estradiol [E2], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEA-S]), and peptide hormones (FSH and LH). Birth weights, placental weights and gestation age were recorded at birth. The results showed that -4-AD, T and E2 levels were significantly decreased (P less than 0.01) in alcohol users; DHEA-S, FSH and LH levels were unaffected. Birth weights were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) in alcohol users, the placental weights and gestation age were not affected. We conclude that alcohol passes through the placenta and affects fetal testes, capacity to synthesize steroids and the effect appears to be direct and not via the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis.