Effect of in utero exposure of Toddy (coconut palm wine) on liver function and lipid metabolism in rat fetuses

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a country liquor Toddy (Coconut palm wine) and an equivalent quantity of ethanol on liver function and lipid metabolism in utero. Female albino rats with an average weight of 125± 5 g were exposed to Toddy from coconut palm (24.5 ml/kg-1 body weight/day) and ethanol (0.52 ml/kg body weight/day) for 15 days before conception and during pregnancy. On day 13 and day 19 of gestation, altered liver function and hyperlipidemia were seen in the fetuses of both the treated groups. Altered liver function was evidenced by the increased activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (aspartate amino transferase (GOT)), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (alanine amino transferase (GPT)). Hyperlipidemia was caused by increased biosynthesis since the incorporation of 14C acetate into lipids and activities of HMG CoA reductase and lipogenic enzymes were elevated. Toddy treated fetuses were more severely affected than those exposed to an equivalent quantity of ethanol. Toddy seemed to potentiate the toxicity induced by alcohol suggesting the role of non alcoholic components. Hepatic functions of the day 13 fetuses were effected to a lesser degree than those in the day 19 hepatic liver.