Ethanol consumption by rat dams during gestation, lactation and weaning increases ethanol consumption by their adolescent young.
In two experiments, we examined effects of ethanol consumption in rat dams during gestation, lactation, and weaning on voluntary ethanol consumption by their adolescent young. We found that exposure to an ethanol-ingesting dam throughout gestation, lactation, and weaning enhanced voluntary ethanol consumption by 26- to 33-day-old adolescents. We systematically examined effects on adolescent ethanol intake or requiring dams to drink ethanol during various periods in their pups' development. We found that exposure to an ethanol-consuming dam during weaning enhanced adolescent ethanol consumption and exposure to a dam drinking ethanol during either gestation or while nursing enhanced adolescents' ethanol consumption only if pups also had access to ethanol during the weaning period.
Honey
P Lynne
PL
Department of Psychology, McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. honeypl@mcmaster.ca
Galef
Bennett G
BG
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012919:Social Behavior; D014886:Weaning
D000431:Ethanol