OPEN-FIELD AND AVOIDANCE PERFORMANCE OF RATS AS A FUNCTION OF PRENATAL ETHANOL TREATMENT

Pregnant rats were intubated during days 10-14 of gestation. Groups 6g, 4g, and 2g were intubated with one-half these amounts of ethanol twice each treatment day. Group PF animals were pair fed to group 6g animals and placebo intubated. Group C was not intubated. The treatments did not differentially affect the number or weight of pups delivered. Developmental measures taken prior to weaning were also not affected. Offspring behavior in an open field on days 63 and 64 was a function of maternal treatment with Group 4g showing increased ambulation and rearing. During Y-maze zvoidance testing on days 65-69, Group 6g offspring made more avoidance responses than the other groups which were equivalent. Study 2 included offspring of dams given a 8g, 6g, 4g, or 2g treatment regimen. Treatment effects were observed in latency to move, rearing, and grooming in the open field. Although Group 8g and 6g dams were equivalent with regard to nutrition during gestation. Group 8g offspring made more avoidance responses and more correct discriminations in the Y maze than the other groups. Thus, in both studies, marked treatment-related behavioral effects were found after 60 days in rats that showed no developmental differences. © 1979.