Biomaterial Database

Pup-induced maternal behavior in adult and juvenile rats exposed to alcohol prenatally. 1985

S Barron, and E P Riley

The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on pup-induced maternal behaviors were examined in virgin rats whose mothers consumed liquid diets containing either 35 or 0% ethanol-derived-calories (EDC) on days 6-20 of gestation. A pair-feeding procedure was utilized to control for reduced caloric intake and, in addition, an ad libitum lab chow group was included to control for possible liquid diet effects. The results from experiments 1 and 2 revealed a sexually differential effect on this behavior in adult virgins exposed to alcohol in utero. Adult 35% EDC females showed a variety of deficits in maternal behaviors relative to controls; however, males with similar prenatal treatment appeared unaffected. In experiment 3, both 35% EDC male and female juveniles displayed altered maternal behaviors relative to controls. These results demonstrate yet another behavior sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure. Prenatal hormonal alterations occurring as a consequence of maternal alcohol consumption may be a mechanism by which this long term behavioral effect is observed. This hypothesis and the importance of future research in this relatively new area of fetal alcohol studies are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008425	Maternal Behavior	The behavior patterns associated with or characteristic of a mother.	Maternal Patterns of Care,Maternal Care Patterns,Behavior, Maternal,Behaviors, Maternal,Care Pattern, Maternal,Care Patterns, Maternal,Maternal Behaviors,Maternal Care Pattern,Pattern, Maternal Care,Patterns, Maternal Care
D010332	Paternal Behavior	The behavior patterns associated with or characteristic of a father.	Behavior, Paternal,Behaviors, Paternal,Paternal Behaviors
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297	Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects	The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH.	Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D005260	Female		Females
D000431	Ethanol	A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.	Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus