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Original Research | Biochemistry | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 1986 - 1990 | India
Study of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Postnatal Intestinal Development, Milk Consumption and Fertility Indices in Intoxicated Rats-Born Offspring
Abstract: Background: Exposure to ethanol either during the pregnancy or lactation period induces marked alterations in growth and development of offspring?s collectively known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), however, its effects on the postnatal intestinal development, milk consumption and fertility indices and are not adequately investigated. We evaluated, intestinal status, milk consumption of litter/the offspring born and several indices such as fertility, viable gestation and the survival index, hence this complementary study was performed regarding pregnancy outcome. Materials and Methods: Pregnant female rats beginning at day 1 of gestation were fed ethanol daily during the entire gestation or lactation separately. To study the effect of chronic alcoholism during gestation or lactation separately. At birth, Control newborns were cross-fostered to Ethanol-exposed Mother rats (EM), and the offspring issued from the ethanol exposed mothers were cross-fostered to Control mother rats (CM). Hence, there were 3 experimental groups of offspring formed: (A) Control offspring receiving No treatment (CO); (B) Offspring exposed to Ethanol only during Gestation (GO); and (C) Offspring exposed to Ethanol only during Lactation (LO). All the results were compared with offspring Pair-fed groups (PFO) born of the Pair-fed Mother rats (PFM). Results: Results of current study found no significant difference in food intake and body weight of unexposed and ethanol exposed pregnant female rat. Offspring exposed to ethanol only during lactation show a significantly lower body weight compared with the control groups (CO, PFO) and the offspring exposed to ethanol only during gestation at Day 21 of lactation (P < 0.001). Milk consumption was significantly lower for alcohol-administered groups (GO and LO) compared with control groups (CO, PFO; P < 0.001). In-addition there was a slight insignificant reduction, for number of litter size in the EM and PFO groups compared with the CM. In the PFM group too there was an insignificant slight reduction, of fertility index and that of viable gestation. The levels of testosterone were significantly decreased in EM and in the PFD (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of our study suggested that ethanol exposure either during the pregnancy or lactation period induces marked postnatal development specifically seen in certain intestinal status, milk consumption and fertility indices of ethanol intoxicated rats in utero.
Keywords: Prenatal ethanol exposure, Postnatal Intestinal development, Fetal alcohol syndrome, Fertility indices
How to Cite?: Zamiruddin Ansari, Akhtar Mahmood, Safrun Mahmood, "Study of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Postnatal Intestinal Development, Milk Consumption and Fertility Indices in Intoxicated Rats-Born Offspring", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1986-1990, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26828191828, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26828191828