Effects of ethanol and malnutrition on rat neuromotor development.
The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is a synergistic effect of malnutrition and ethanol exposure on neuromotor development. Ethanol (E) (6 g/kg) or sucrose (S) (isocaloric to ethanol) was administered by gavage to ad libitum-fed (A) and malnourished (M) pregnant rats on days 18, 19 and 20 of pregnancy. Malnutrition was produced by food restriction to 50% of control intake. At birth, the offspring were weighed and transferred to surrogate mothers. Performance in the rim-escape test and on the rotating rod were evaluated on days 19 and 28 of life, respectively. Development of the adult swimming pattern was also studied. The results indicated that: 1) malnutrition alone decreased birth weight (g) significantly (AE, 5.56 +/- 0.36; AS, 6.31 +/- 1.05; ME, 4.81 +/- 0.73; MS, 5.23 +/- 0.57); 2) a synergistic interaction between alcohol exposure and malnutrition was observed only in the rim escape test (percent of falling rats: AE, 9; AS, 5; ME, 24; MS, 5); 3) only malnutrition retarded development of swimming; 4) malnourished dams gained more weight (g) than controls during treatment with ethanol (AE, 2.6 +/- 8.4, N = 6; AS, 3.1 +/- 8.4, N = 4; ME, 23.0 +/- 6.3, N = 7; MS, 29.0 +/- 9.0, N = 8). These results indicate a possible synergistic action between malnutrition and ethanol on neuromotor development and point to the importance of ethanol as a calorie source for malnourished animals.
Ribeiro-da-Silva
N F
NF
Núcleo de Ciências Comportamentais e do Desenvolvimento, Departamento de Fisiologia, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.
Menezes
A C
AC
Malheiros
L R
LR
da-Silva
V A
VA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol