Alcohol ingestion in lactating rats: effects on mothers and offspring. I
Abel, E.L.
Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie 210(1): 121-127
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9780 PMID: 4474847 Document Number: 73926
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given water (control) or a 10% v/v solution of ethanol as their sole fluid. The presence of ethanol markedly reduced mean fluid intake of the rats during pregnancy and lactation (P < 0.01). Body wt. of rats receiving ethanol also decreased during lactation. 21 days after parturition, mean body wt. of pups nursed by rats receiving ethanol and control rats respectively was 38.7 plus or minus 1.4 and 44.6 plus or minus 1.29 g (P < 0.01). Alcohol-reared pups were found to be tolerant to a challenge dose of ethanol when tested at 21 days of age; mean 'sleeping' time for pups nursed by control dams and dams receiving ethanol was respectively 74 vs. 53.3 min (P < 0.05).