Effects of neonatal ethanol treatment on subsequent behaviors in male adult rats and their untreated offspring

In two of three studies, male rats were treated via intragastric intubation with ethanol in early postnatal life during the brain growth spurt period analogous to that during the third trimester of human fetal development. Littermate controls for effects of intubation, handling, and nutrition were used. In Study I, male rats treated on postnatal days 1-8 were neither different in subsequent adult learning tasks (passive avoidance and the Lashley III maze) nor in a photocell activity measure. In Study II, male rats treated on postnatal days 1-7 or 8-14 were tested in the open field on postnatal days 30-33. No activity differences were observed; however, E8-14 animals entered the center squares more often than littermate controls on day 4 of the open field test. Body weights were not significantly different through postnatal day 90; E8-14 animals weighed significantly less than littermate controls on postnatal day 180. In Study III, the untreated offspring of males treated in Study II were observed. Paternal ethanol exposure and pair-underfeeding each resulted in larger litter sizes and decreased pup birth weights; sex ratios did not differ. Physical developmental indices (pinna development, eye opening, ear opening, and tooth eruption) showed differences between groups. Repeated measures of behavioral ontogeny were also taken. Differences (and interactions) were significant between groups for the inclined plane, ascending wire mesh, and the hind limb support tests. No meaningful pattern nor direction of differences across days was apparent for these measures, however. The Study III untreated offspring were tested in the open field on postnatal days 26-29 (females) or on postnatal days 30-33 (males). Female offspring of all groups entered fewer squares but entered center squares more often than males on day 4 of testing. The untreated offspring of ethanol-treated males were generally hypoactive relative to controls on day 1 of testing