Effects of chronic ethanol consumption on gestation and lactation in rats

Abstract

Chronic consumption of ethanol during pregnancy and lactation may lead to abnormalities in the fetus or infant. A group of female Wistar rats was submitted to ethanol treatment over a period of a month. A pair-fed control group received sucrose solution isocaloric to ethanol and the control group received water "ad libitum." Afterward, the females were mated with males over a period of 20 days. At birth, each litter was maximized to eight pups and the remaining ones were decapitated to remove the fetal blood and brains. No significant difference was observed in fetal body and brain weight at birth. During lactation the ethanol and pair-fed groups gained less weight than the control group. After weaning, their weight became similar. Fetal blood glucose levels were decreased in the ethanol-treated group. One hundred percent of the pair-fed and control females delivered live fetuses at term and all survived; only 40% of the females in the ethanol group delivered, and one pup did not survive. Chronic ethanol treatment pointed to a possible reduction in the fertility. It seems likely that the change in body weight of ethanol-fed dams was caused by undernutrition.

Effect of Preservation Methods of Oil Palm Sap (Elaeis guineensis) on the Reproductive Indices of Male Wistar Rats

“…Efficient utilization of energy due to probiotic yeasts, and presence of alcohol in the palm sap/wine products may have led to the reduction of the pups' weights. This observation agrees with the reports of Sreeranjitkumar et al, 32 Breese et al, 33 and Maldaner et al, 34 that administration of toddy/ethanol decreased the birth weight of pups.…”

Kronik Sigara ve Alkol Maruziyetinin Gebe Rat Miyometriyum Oksitosin- ve Diltiazem- Aracılı Fonksiyonel Yanıtları Üzerine Etkileri

“…Previous studies suggested that chronic consumption prolonged the duration of pregnancy, while acute consumption resulted in increased risk for earlyonset delivery. 22,23 These findings indicate two important factors caused either delayed or premature delivery: the pattern of consumption and timing of exposure. 10,14 In previous studies, it was shown that the administration of ethanol led to the inhibition of oxytocin release from the neurohypophysis.…”

Progesterone and Prostaglandin H Synthase‐2 Involvement in Alcohol‐Induced Preterm Birth in Mice

“…The clinical application for the use of ethanol infusions in threatened premature labor was readily apparent, and ethanol has been used since the 1980s, with varying degrees of success, in attempts to treat and prevent preterm birth (Zervoudakis et a]., 1980). Although some data suggest that alcohol use during pregnancy may be associated with lengthened gestation and a decreased risk for preterm delivery (Fuchs et al, 1967;Hahn et al, 1984;Leichter and Lee, 1979;Maldaner et at., 1994;Meis et al, 1998;Wright et al, 1998), other studies suggest that alcohol consumption during pregnancy shortens gestation and increases the risk for premature delivery (Berkowitz et al, 1982;Hingson et al, 1982;Olegard et al, 1979;Ouellette et al, 1977).…”