Objective:To reveal the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on CBP/P300-interacting transactivator with ED-rich 2(CITED2) gene expression in mouse embryos and heart

and to investigate the relationship between alcohol exposure during pregnancy and the methylation level of Cp G island in the promoter region of CITED2 gene. Methods:Twenty pregnant mice were exposed to a single dose of alcohol(10 μl/g/d

56% alcohol)by gavage between E0.5-E20.5;another 20 pregnant mice exposed to saline lavage were taken as control group. Embryonic hearts of E14.5

E17.5 fetal mice

newborn mice and postnatal 7 d mice were collected respectively. The m RNA expressions of the heart development-related genes(CITED2

GATA binding protein 4(GATA4))were measured by Q-PCR method. Cp G islangds methylation of CITED2 promoter was measured. Results:Alcohol exposure increased the expression of GATA4 at E14.5 and E17.5 by 1.88 and 1.56 folds

respectively(P<0.05)

decreased the expression of CITED2 at E14.5

E17.5 and newborn by 0.72

0.73 and 0.74 fold(P<0.05). Alcohol exposure increased the expression of CITED2 on postnatal 7 d

however it showed no statistical difference(P>0.05). Conclusion:Alcohol exposure during pregnancy exerts a negative regulatory effect on CITED2 gene expression

the mechanism of which may not through changing methylation of Cp G islands of CITED2 thus affecting cardiac development.