title: Effects of chronic and acute ethanol treatment during prenatal and early postnatal ages on testosterone levels and sexual behaviors in rats.
abstract: This study was prompted by previous findings that prenatal ethanol exposure may interfere with the differentiation of the sexual behavior in rats. Ethanol (6 g/kg) administered daily from day 15 postconception, resulted in elevated testosterone (T) levels on Day 18 in male and female fetuses. No alterations of sexual behavior in the ethanol-treated male offspring were seen under these conditions. However, in ethanol-treated female offspring the onset of regular estrous cycling was significantly delayed. Acute treatment with doses of ethanol, 2, 4 or 6 g/kg, was ineffective in influencing plasma T levels of the fetuses. Acute treatment with 3 g/kg ethanol did not prevent the rise of T levels normally occurring immediately after birth. In adulthood, but not at prepubertal age (Day 30), treatment of male rats with 2 g/kg ethanol caused a depression of plasma T levels. Possible mechanisms affected by ethanol exposure and influencing on the fetal development were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harthon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hård
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D013739:Testosterone