Abstract
Most previous studies on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure have involved the forced intake of alcohol in rats which do not voluntarily drink alcohol. Because the Fawn-Hooded rats voluntarily drink substantial quantities of alcohol (6-8 g/kg), the present study examined the consequences of such high voluntary intake of alcohol on the offspring. Female rats were screened for alcohol intake and then mated with males. The males were removed 5 days later and two females were presented with two bottles - one containing tap water and the other alcohol (10%, v/v) throughout pregnancy and until the offspring were 10 days old. Another two females received tap water throughout the experiment. A battery of behavioral tests was conducted when the rats reached 70 days of age. The offspring of alcohol-exposed mothers tended to be hyperactive in the open field, especially for grooming. The alcohol-exposed offspring also spent less time in the open arms of an elevated plus maze, suggesting a high level of anxiety, and were more immobile in the forced swim test, suggesting a high level of depression. These findings are comparable to those found previously in Russia by Trofimov and Smolnikova following forced alcohol exposure. Further studies of prenatally alcohol-exposed Fawn-Hooded rats may be informative.
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Ostrovskaya, R., Seredenin, S., Overstreet, D. et al. Voluntary Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy in Fawn-Hooded Rats Induces Behavioral Deficits in Offspring. Neuropsychopharmacol 11, 283 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380207
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380207