Prenatal exposure to alcohol in rat: effect on intestinal enzymes in offspring.
Intestinal hydrolase activities were studied during postnatal development in the offspring of rats exposed to 20% ethanol during gestation; alcohol was withdrawn at birth. Controls received water during gestation. Sucrase, lactase, glucoamylase and aminopeptidase activities were determined 2 and 4 weeks after birth in the proximal jejunum. Offspring prenatally exposed to ethanol showed a deficit in body weight and lower aminopeptidase activity during the suckling period (2 weeks). These effects were reversible by 4 weeks when alcohol was withdrawn at birth. The prenatal exposure to ethanol did not change the pattern of sucrase maturation in the intestine of offsprings. The activities of lactase and glucoamylase were not modified following prenatal exposure to ethanol. In conclusion, exposure to ethanol during gestation caused decreased abilities for the intestine of the offspring to digest protein.
D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005087:Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000201:enzymology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D000431:Ethanol; D006867:Hydrolases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D005087:Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase; D013393:Sucrase