Unbound MEDLINE

A rodent model of low- to moderate-dose ethanol consumption during pregnancy: patterns of ethanol consumption and effects on fetal and offspring growth.

Abstract

It is unknown whether low to moderate maternal alcohol consumption adversely affects postnatal health. The aim of the present study was to develop a rodent model of low-moderate-dose prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a liquid diet with or without 6% v/v EtOH throughout gestation and the pattern of dietary consumption determined. Fetal bodyweights and hepatic alcohol-metabolising gene expression were measured on embryonic Day (E) 20 and offspring growth studied until 1 year. At E8 the plasma EtOH concentration was 0.03%. There was little difference in dietary consumption between the two treatment groups. At E20, EtOH-exposed fetuses were significantly lighter than controls and had significantly decreased ADH4 and increased CYP2E1 gene expression. Offspring killed on postnatal Day (PN) 30 did not exhibit any growth deficits. Longitudinal repeated measures of offspring growth demonstrated slower growth in males from EtOH-fed dams between 7 and 12 months of age; a cohort of male pups killed at 8 months of age had a reduced crown-rump length and kidney weight. In conclusion, a liquid diet of 6% v/v EtOH fed to pregnant dams throughout gestation caused a 3-8% reduction in fetal growth and brain sparing, with growth differences observed in male offspring later in life. This model will be useful for future studies on the effects of low-moderate EtOH on the developmental origins of health and disease.

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    • Authors

    Probyn ME, Zanini S, Ward LC, Bertram JF, Moritz KM

    Institution

    School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. m.probyn@uq.edu.au

    Source

    Reproduction, fertility, and development 24:6 2012 pg 859-70

    MeSH

    Age Factors
    Alcohol Dehydrogenase
    Alcohol Drinking
    Animals
    Body Size
    Bone Density
    Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1
    Disease Models, Animal
    Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
    Eating
    Ethanol
    Female
    Fetal Weight
    Fetus
    Gestational Age
    Liver
    Male
    Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
    Organ Size
    Pregnancy
    Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
    RNA, Messenger
    Rats
    Rats, Sprague-Dawley
    Risk Assessment
    Sexual Maturation

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22781937