Better Safe Than Sorry: PowerPoint Slides for

Transparencies

MATERNAL ALCOHOL MATERNAL ALCOHOL ABUSE IS THE LEADING ABUSE IS THE LEADING

KNOWN CAUSE OF KNOWN CAUSE OF MENTAL RETARDATION IN MENTAL RETARDATION IN

THE WESTERN WORLDTHE WESTERN WORLD

1

The facial features ofThe facial features ofFetal Alcohol Syndrome are:Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are:

• Small eyelid openings (palpebral Small eyelid openings (palpebral fissures)fissures)

• Short, upturned noseShort, upturned nose

• Long upper lip (from nose to mouth) Long upper lip (from nose to mouth) with a thin red border and a deficient with a thin red border and a deficient central groove (philtrum) central groove (philtrum)

• Reduced size of the head Reduced size of the head (microcephaly)(microcephaly)

2

FASFASNORMALNORMAL

3

Visualization of the brain of a normal individual (A) and Visualization of the brain of a normal individual (A) and two with FAS (B,C) shows permanent loss of the tissue two with FAS (B,C) shows permanent loss of the tissue

indicated by the arrows (portions of the corpus callosum).indicated by the arrows (portions of the corpus callosum).

Images courtesy of Dr. S. MattsonImages courtesy of Dr. S. Mattson

NormalNormal FASFAS FASFAS

4

Narrow foreheadNarrow forehead

Short palpebral fissuresShort palpebral fissures

Small noseSmall nose

Small midfaceSmall midface

Long upper lip withLong upper lip withdeficient philtrumdeficient philtrum

child with FASchild with FAS

normalnormalalcohol-exposedalcohol-exposed

mouse fetusesmouse fetuses

The facial features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome The facial features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be seen in both a child and a mouse fetus can be seen in both a child and a mouse fetus that were exposed to alcohol during development.that were exposed to alcohol during development.

5

CELLS THAT SHOULD FORM MIDLINE STRUCTURES CELLS THAT SHOULD FORM MIDLINE STRUCTURES OF THE BRAIN AND FACE ARE OF THE BRAIN AND FACE ARE

KILLED BY ALCOHOLKILLED BY ALCOHOL

DevelopingDevelopingbrain andbrain and

face face

HeartHeart

Mouse embryo (viewed fromMouse embryo (viewed from the front) at a stage corresponding the front) at a stage corresponding

to a 22-23 day old human.to a 22-23 day old human.

A close-up view of an alcohol-exposed A close-up view of an alcohol-exposed mouse embryo shows cells killed by alcoholmouse embryo shows cells killed by alcohol

that have taken up a dark blue stain.that have taken up a dark blue stain.

6

Health advisories Health advisories urge women who urge women who are planning are planning pregnancy pregnancy or are pregnant or are pregnant not to drink alcohol.not to drink alcohol.

7