Lack of persistent effects of low-dose ethanol administered postnatally in rats

This investigation studied direct effects of a low dose of ethanol (1.2 g/kg) administered intragastrically twice daily in a nutriment (Sustagen, Mead Johnson) vehicle upon growth and specific neuroendocrine and behavioral responses in the rat. Charles Rivers, CD albino rats (12 litters) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: ethanol, Sustagen, or handled; 5 litters served as unhandled controls. On postnatal days 2-9, experimental animals were intragastrically fed ethanol or isocaloric Sustagen twice daily; pups were behaviorally depressed for 1-2 hours during treatment. Body weight changes for all groups, obtained during treatment and intermittently throughout the experiment (day 190), were comparable indicating absence of underfeeding effects. Neither open-field activity levels (days 49-53) nor patterns of activity differentiated among groups. Group plasma corticosterone levels showed comparable rises in response to a challenge dose of ethanol (2.0 g/kg IP) day 116 or 147. Intracranial self-stimulation parameters (day 182) did not differentiate among groups implanted with chronic electrodes. Overall, compared to nutritional and other controls, low doses of ethanol (1.2 g/kg) administered twice daily to rats on postnatal days 2-9 failed to cause persistent changes in the behavioral and neuroendocrine parameters studied.