Exposure of piglet coronary arterial muscle cells to low alcohol results in elevation of intracellular free Ca2+: Relevance to fetal alcohol syndrome

Chronic exposure of cultured piglet neonatal coronary arterial smooth muscle cells to low concentrations of ethanol (46-115 mg/dl) for 7 days resulted in concentration-dependent elevation in intracellular free Ca2+ ions ([Ca2+](i)); these rises (22-56%) in [Ca2+](i) were not reversible upon short-term exposure to normal, Ca2+-containing physiological salt solution, These findings help to provide a rational basis for why ethanol can result in the well-known fetal alcohol syndrome, including cardiac defects and in-utero death.