Biomaterial Database

Effects of prenatal maternal ethanol on male offspring progressive-ratio performance and response to amphetamine. 1995

G D Gentry, and C J Merritt, and L D Middaugh

University of Charleston, Department of Psychology, SC 29424, USA.

This study was designed to further explore the nature of our previously reported reduction in the efficacy of food reinforces for prenatal ethanol-exposed mice. We determined the effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on responding for food delivered on a progressive-ratio (PR) reinforcement schedule, which has been shown to be sensitive to changes in motivation and/or value of reinforcers, and we assessed the effects of amphetamine on responding maintained by the PR schedule. Subjects were adult (12 months old) male offspring of C57BL/6J mice fed liquid diets containing either ethanol (25% ethanol-derived calories, N = 12) or sucrose (25% sucrose-derived calories, N = 9) during gestation days 5-17. Prenatal ethanol-exposed mice differed from controls by having lower response rates and a greater disruption of responding following amphetamine injections. The reduced responding for food reward on the PR schedule supports our previously advanced hypothesis that prenatal ethanol reduces the efficacy of food reinforcers. The enhanced effects of amphetamine found in these adult mice is in agreement with previous reports on young rats. Although either of the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure observed in the present study are suggestive of altered DA systems, current neurochemical studies on either rats or mice provide no support for the hypothesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
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
D002492	Central Nervous System Depressants	A very loosely defined group of drugs that tend to reduce the activity of the central nervous system. The major groups included here are ethyl alcohol, anesthetics, hypnotics and sedatives, narcotics, and tranquilizing agents (antipsychotics and antianxiety agents).	CNS Depressants,Depressants, CNS
D003216	Conditioning, Operant	Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced.	Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
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
D000661	Amphetamine	A powerful central nervous system stimulant and sympathomimetic. Amphetamine has multiple mechanisms of action including blocking uptake of adrenergics and dopamine, stimulation of release of monamines, and inhibiting monoamine oxidase. Amphetamine is also a drug of abuse and a psychotomimetic. The l- and the d,l-forms are included here. The l-form has less central nervous system activity but stronger cardiovascular effects. The d-form is DEXTROAMPHETAMINE.	Desoxynorephedrin,Levoamphetamine,Phenopromin,l-Amphetamine,Amfetamine,Amphetamine Sulfate,Amphetamine Sulfate (2:1),Centramina,Fenamine,Mydrial,Phenamine,Thyramine,levo-Amphetamine,Sulfate, Amphetamine,l Amphetamine,levo Amphetamine
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
D015259	Dopamine Agents	Any drugs that are used for their effects on dopamine receptors, on the life cycle of dopamine, or on the survival of dopaminergic neurons.	Dopamine Drugs,Dopamine Effect,Dopamine Effects,Dopaminergic Agents,Dopaminergic Drugs,Dopaminergic Effect,Dopaminergic Effects,Agents, Dopamine,Agents, Dopaminergic,Drugs, Dopamine,Drugs, Dopaminergic,Effect, Dopamine,Effect, Dopaminergic,Effects, Dopamine,Effects, Dopaminergic