Effects of the maternal consumption of alcohol on alcohol selection in rats

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of the maternal administration of alcohol on alcohol selection in the adult offspring. Female Wistar rats were pair-fed liquid diets containing either alcohol (6.7% or 4% v/v) or isocaloric carbohydrates starting on day 1 of gestation. The litters were culled to 6 and the pups placed with non-alcohol treated surrogate mothers until they were weaned. At 45 days of age all rats were tested for two-choice selection of 10% (v/v) ethanol vs. water. Consumption from both drinking tubes was recorded for 30 days and selection ratios for alcohol per total fluid volume were calculated. In all conditions a significant increase in alcohol selection was observed across the 30 day test period. These data indicate that prenatal exposure to alcohol may play a part in subsequent selection of alcohol, at least initially. However, the mother's alcohol treatment did not significantly influence the offspring's selection of alcohol over the 30 day test period. Alcohol selection by an individual may be, at least in part, determined by the mother's consumption of alcohol during gestation.