Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on physical growth, sensory reflex maturation and brain development in the rat.

Abstract

In the offspring of ethanol-treated rats during geHlation (25 %, ethanol in drinking water) decreased lilter size, increased postnatal mort.ality rate, reduced body weight and body size delayed car opening, eyelid opening and teeth cruptrnn, retnrded air r,ghting reflex acquisition, impaired brain growth, reduced cortical thickness and delayed maturation of layer Vth's pyramidal neurons: (a) reduced basilar dendritic arborization and (b) decreased number of i,;pincs in th,i apical dendrite, were observed wlwn compared with agc-matclwd conlr ils fed with a standard di<'t. Minimal effects were found in the offRpring of fihrc-tn•ated rats during gestation (standard dic1 mixed with cellulo:w) in which the body weight wm; similar to that of controls, although both the calorific intake from fnod and the mother's weig-ht gain during ptc~nancy were similar to those of the et.hanol-treat(•d group. All theHe a mormal parameters hecamc norm,il :it the end of the lirst month of pod. rntal life, indicating recovery of these developmenta I ,!Pfccts produced by prenatal ethanol consumption.