title: The role of liquid diet formulation in the postnatal ethanol exposure of rats via mother's milk.
abstract: The nutritional adequacy of three liquid diets containing ethanol to support lactation was studied in rats. Diets 1 and 2 provided 18 and 25% kcal, respectively, as protein with 36% of total calories as ethanol, while in diet 3 alcohol provided 28% and protein 25% of total calories. Three series of isoenergetically pair-fed rats, as well as an ad libitum group fed a solid diet, were studied. A primary maternal malnutrition was evident in rats fed diet 1. With respect to diet 2, the 96% postnatal mortality which occurred may have been due to an inhibition of milk production mediated by exaggerated blood alcohol concentrations present in the lactating dams. Diet 3 seemed to be nutritionally adequate for the extra requirements for lactation and a direct effect of ethanol was observed in the sucklings. High blood alcohol levels (25-50 mmol/1) were obtained in dams fed ethanol diets 1 and 3; however only 1% of maternal blood alcohol appeared in the blood of sucklings, demonstrating a low transfer of ethanol from mother to offspring through the milk. Finally the model for postnatal exposure to alcohol via mother's milk is discussed in terms of other indirect alcohol-related factors which make it difficult to evaluate the direct impact of ethanol per se in the normal development of the suckling pups.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Citológicas, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sancho-Tello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol