The effect of maternal ethanol ingestion on fetal tissue vitamin A was investigated. Pregnant rats were pair-fed control diets or diets containing 36% of energy as ethanol. After 17 or 21 d gestation, fetuses were removed and fetal and maternal tissues were analyzed by HPLC for retinol and retinyl palmitate. Ethanol consumption resulted in fewer fetuses per pregnancy, increased number of resorptions, and increased numbers of gross fetal abnormalities. In maternal tissues, ethanol consumption resulted in greater lung and kidney vitamin A concentrations. In the fetuses of ethanol-consuming pregnancies, free retinol in liver was higher at d 17. However, fetal liver palmitate levels and total retinyl palmitate in liver, lung, and kidney were lower in ethanol-fed rats at d 21 of gestation. Fetal lung retinyl palmitate concentrations were greater at both d 17 and d 21, and kidney levels were also greater at d 21. In conclusion, the ingestion of ethanol by pregnant rats is associated with a reduction in fetal liver vitamin A levels and an elevation in the levels of lung and kidney vitamin A, indicating possible altered vitamin A metabolism as a result of ethanol consumption.