Biomaterial Database

Prenatal ethanol exposure: effects on androgen and nonandrogen dependent behaviors and on gonadal development in male rats. 1994

B A Blanchard, and J H Hannigan

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65212.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol may impair gonadal and behavioral development in male rats, possibly via reduction of perinatal androgenization. We examined locomotor activity on postnatal day 18 (PND 18), which is not influenced by perinatal androgens and juvenile play and testicular development (testes weight), which are dependent on perinatal androgen exposure, in rats whose dams consumed ethanol during pregnancy. Male offspring of pair-fed and lab chow-fed dams served as controls. Despite reduced anogenital distance at birth, indicating compromised perinatal androgenization, fetal ethanol-exposed males did not exhibit demasculinization of play behavior. Hyperactivity in fetal ethanol-exposed males indicated that the treatment regimen was sufficient to produce behavioral deficits. Testes weight was reduced in both ethanol-exposed and pair-fed offspring, indicating that nutritional deficits associated with maternal ethanol intake may impair normal gonadal development in male rats. The findings suggest that fetal ethanol exposure may influence gonadal development but not necessarily affect a gonadal hormone-dependent behavior.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
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
D001724	Birth Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual at BIRTH. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Birthweight,Birth Weights,Birthweights,Weight, Birth,Weights, Birth
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
D000728	Androgens	Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power.	Androgen,Androgen Receptor Agonist,Androgen Effect,Androgen Effects,Androgen Receptor Agonists,Androgenic Agents,Androgenic Compounds,Agents, Androgenic,Agonist, Androgen Receptor,Agonists, Androgen Receptor,Compounds, Androgenic,Effect, Androgen,Effects, Androgen,Receptor Agonist, Androgen,Receptor Agonists, Androgen
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