The effects of chronic alcohol consumption on pregnant rats and their offspring

The effect of chronic ethanol intake during gestation was studied in rats fed a liquid diet in which ethanol provided 36% of the total calories. The animals were chronically alcoholised before mating, and the body weight gain and nutritional status during pregnancy were noted. Blood ethanol levels were measured during pregnancy and parturition. Specifically, we have shown that chronic ethanol intake during pregnancy lengthens the gestation period, decreases foetal viability, increases the placental weight and diminishes foetus, liver and brain weights, as well as the protein and DNA content of foetal brain. The reduced body weight of rats prenatally exposed to alcohol continued for the first two months of the postnatal period and was most apparent during lactation.