Ethanol-induced advance in the onset of puberty is prevented by the GABAA antagonist bicuculline in female rats.
OBJECTIVE
The use of alcohol during lactation produces an advance in the onset of puberty in female rats. This research studied the possible participation of GABAA activity in this phenomenon.


METHODS
Female Wistar rats were exposed to one of three different treatments from 13 to 18 days of postnatal age: (1) ethanol (2.5 g/kg PO) twice a day and isotonic saline (10 ml/kg IP) four times a day (AS group), (2) ethanol (2.5 g/kg PO) twice a day and bicuculline (2.5 mg/kg IP) four times a day (ABic group), (3) water (25 ml/kg PO) twice a day and bicuculline (2.5 mg/kg IP) four times a day (WBic group). A fourth group (control) did not receive any drug.


RESULTS
The advance in the age at vaginal opening and at the first vaginal estrous seen in females of the AS group was completely prevented in the ABic group when bicuculline was added to alcohol treatment. The age at first behavioral estrous, however, was not different between groups. The age at vaginal opening, first vaginal estrous and first behavioral estrous was not significantly different in control, ABic and WBic groups. Body weight at vaginal opening was lower in the AS group than in the other three groups. Gestational period was longer in the AS group, but the number of pups per litter was lower in females of the ABic and WBic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results reported here support a significant role for GABAA activity in the effects of alcohol at the onset of puberty.
Juárez
Jorge
J
Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Rayo 2611, Col. Jardines del Bosque, C.P. 44520, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. jjuarez@udgserv.cencar.udg.mx
Vázquez-Cortés
Cristina
C
Barrios De Tomasi
Eliana
E
D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D018756:GABA Antagonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol; D001640:Bicuculline