Effects of paternal alcohol consumption on pregnancy outcome in rats

Male rats were divided into 3 groups and were given ad lib access to a liquid alcohol diet containing 35% ethanol derived calories (EDC) or were pair-fed with an isocaloric control diet, containing 17.5% or 0% EDC, for a minimum of 52 days. A fourth group was fed rat chow ad lib. Males were then mated with non-treated females. Males consuming alcohol did not differ in sexual behavior but were less fertile and sired offspring that were significantly less active than controls and the effects on activity were dose-related. Females sired by males consuming alcohol also performed worse in a two-way shock avoidance learning task although differences in this task were not dose-related. There were no significant effects, however, on body weight of offspring at birth or at 21 days of age or on other behavioral measures such as spontaneous alternation or passive avoidance learning.