Preferential alcoholic embryopathy: effects of liquid diets.
Our initial report of a preferential expression of experimental alcoholic embryopathy affecting the male offspring contiguous in utero to male siblings of Long-Evans rats was based on gavage administration of alcohol to pregnant rats without regard to isocaloric, pair-fed exposure paradigms. In this study, pregnant Long-Evans rats were given 35% ethanol-derived calories (EDC) in one of two different liquid diets: 1) a liquid alcohol diet based on Sustacal, a flavored liquid food formulated for human nutritional standards; and 2) a high-protein liquid rodent diet devised by Lieber and DeCarli (L&D). The diets were administered from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Pregnant rats were pair-fed liquid diets containing 0% EDC, but isocalorically balanced to 35% EDC with either sucrose (Sustacal) or maltose-dextrin (L&D). A fifth group of pregnant rats was given access ad libitum to standard certified laboratory rodent diet and served as free-fed controls. On day 20 of gestation, all pregnant rats were euthanized and the products of conception examined by standard teratologic techniques. Pregnant animals fed Sustacal-based diets consistently consumed fewer calories per kilogram body weight per day from day 6 to 15 of gestation (i.e., they were significantly calorie-deprived during pregnancy) as compared with the standard laboratory-diet-fed controls or those consuming L&D diets. Body weights of rats consuming Sustacal diets (both 0 and 35% EDC) were significantly lower throughout gestation when compared with all other groups. Higher (> 150 mg/dl) blood alcohol levels were attained by rats consuming 35% EDC in Sustacal diet as compared with L&D (100 mg/dl) diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mankes
R F
RF
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Albany Medical College, NY 12208.
Battles
A H
AH
LeFevre
R
R
van der Hoeven
T
T
Glick
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
D000431:Ethanol