Effects of prenatal alcohol consumption on open-field behaviour and alcohol preference in rats

Throughout gestation pregnant Wistar rats consumed a liquid diet containing sustagen and ethanol. Control mothers were fed on lab chow. Subsequently, the offspring of the ethanol-fed mothers displayed significantly greater activity (ambulation and rearing) in an open-field test. Further, pups whose mothers were exposed to ethanol consumed significantly more ethanol in a preference test, compared to control offspring.