Prenatal alcohol exposure alters the liver and induces pathological changes
in the morphology and function of the Golgi apparatus (GA), including an a
ccumulation or reduced transport of newly synthesized glycoconjugates which
suggests that ethanol could affect the cytoskeleton (CSK) in hepatocytes.
To test this possibility we have analysed, using various techniques, the ef
fect of ethanol "in utero" on several CSK proteins including actin, alpha-
tubulin, cytokeratin, vimentin and the motor associated proteins dynein and
kinesin. Our results show that this treatment increases the amount of both
alpha -tubulin and cytokeratin and alters its distribution.