Chronic prenatal ethanol exposure increases disinhibition and perseverative responding in the adult guinea pig.
Cognitive and behavioural deficits, including increased impulsivity and perseveration, are associated with chronic prenatal ethanol exposure (CPEE) in humans. We tested whether these same deficits occur in the guinea pig after CPEE treatment. Pregnant guinea pigs received oral administration of ethanol (4 g/kg maternal body weight/day), or isocaloric-sucrose/pair-feeding throughout gestation. Young adult offspring were trained in lever-pressing paradigms to work for a sucrose-pellet food reward. CPEE increased No-Go, but not Go, responses in the Go/No-Go paradigm, indicative of a disinhibition deficit in these animals. Perseverative responses in the Cued Alternation task were also increased in CPEE offspring. These data show that CPEE induces behavioural deficits in the guinea pig that are remarkably similar to the executive function deficits that follow prenatal ethanol exposure in humans.
Olmstead
Mary C
MC
Department of Pharmacology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. olmstead@queensu.ca
Martin
Amanda
A
Brien
James F
JF
Reynolds
James N
JN
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D013395:Sucrose