Abstract
Behavioural and developmental effects of exposure to a low level of ethyl alcohol from conception to adulthood have been examined in mice. A 5% solution of alcohol in the drinking fluid of male and female adults did not impair fertility. The offspring of treated mice were significantly lighter at birth than their controls and remained so throughout their life span. No congenital malformations were observed.
Behaviour of the offspring at 3–4 weeks of age and in adulthood was examined by ethological analysis of encounters between alcohol-treated and control mice of the same sex. In male and female juvenile mice receiving 5% alcohol, the frequency and duration of social investigation were significantly lower than those of control partners and the duration of non-social behaviour was raised. Individual elements of ‘investigate’ and ‘sniff’ were significantly reduced in frequency. In alcohol-treated adults, the only behavioural difference from controls was an increased frequency of flight elements occurring in males. It is suggested that longterm exposure to alcohol may lead to behavioural adaptation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bianchine, J. W., Taylor, B. D.: Noonan syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Lancet 1974I, 933
Bond, N. W., DiGiusto, E. L.: Prenatal alcohol consumption and open-field behaviour in rats: effects of age at time of testing. Psychopharmacology 52, 311–312 (1977)
Branchey, L., Friedhoff, A. J.: Biochemical and behavioural changes in rats exposed to ethanol in utero. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 273, 328–330 (1976)
Cutler, M. G., Mackintosh, J. H., Chance, M. R. A.: Effects of cannabis resin on social behaviour in the laboratory mouse. Psychopharmacologia 41, 271–276 (1975a)
Cutler, M. G., Mackintosh, J. H., Chance, M. R. A.: Effects of the environment on the behavioural response of mice to non-ataxic doses of ethyl alcohol. Neuropharmacology 14, 841–846 (1975b)
Dixon, A. K., Mackintosh, J. H.: Effects of female urine upon the social behaviour of adult male mice. Anim. Behav. 19, 138–140 (1971)
Elis, J., Krsiak, M.: Effect of alcohol administration during pregnancy on social behaviour of offsprings of mice. Act. Nerv. Super. 17, 281–282 (1975)
Ferrier, P. E., Nicol, I., Ferrier, S.: Fetal alcohol syndrome. Lancet 1973II, 1496
Grant, E. C., Mackintosh, J. H.: A comparison of the social postures of some common laboratory rodents. Behaviour 21, 246–257 (1963)
Grant, E. C., Mackintosh, J. H.: The effect of olfactory stimuli on the agonistic behaviour of laboratory mice. Z. Tierpsychol. 23, 584–587 (1966)
Ho, B. T., Fritchie, G. E., Idanpaan-Heikki La, J. E., McIsaac, W. M.: Placental transfer and tissue distribution of ethanol-1-14C: a radioautographic study in monkeys and hamsters. Q. J. Stud. Alcohol 33, 485–494 (1972)
Jones, K. L., Smith, D. W.: Recognition of the fetal alcohol syndrome in early infancy. Lancet 1973II, 999–1001
Kaminski, M., Rumeau-Rouquette, C., Schwartz, D.: Le consommation d'alcool chez les femmes enceintes et son effet sur l'issue de la grossesse. Anglo-French Symposium on Alcoholism. INSERM/MRC 54, 87–100 (1975)
Krsiak, M.: Effect of ethanol on aggression and timidity in mice. Psychopharmacology 51, 75–80 (1976)
Miczek, K. A., Barry, H.: Effect of alcohol on attack and defensivesubmissive reactions in rats. Psychopharmacology 52, 231–237 (1977)
Miller, N. E., Barry, H.: Motivational effects of drugs: methods which illustrate some general problems in psychopharmacology. Psychopharmacologia 1, 169–199 (1960)
Phillips, D. S., Stainbrook, G. L.: Effects of early alcohol exposure upon adult learning ability and taste preferences. Physiol. Psychol. 4, 473–475 (1976)
Silverman, A. P.: Ethological and statistical analysis of drug effects on the social behaviour of laboratory rats. Br. J. Pharmacol. 24, 579–590 (1965)
Tze, W. S., Lee, M.: Adverse effects of maternal alcohol consumption on pregnancy and foetal growth in rats. Nature 257, 479–480 (1975)
Wallgren, H., Barry, H.: Actions of alcohol. Biochemical, physiological and psychological aspects, vol. 1, pp. 359–367. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1970
Yanai, J., Ginsburg, B. E.: Long-term effects of early ethanol on predatory behaviour in inbred mice. Physiol. Psychol. 4, 409–411 (1976)
Yanai, J., Ginsburg, B. E.: Long-term reduction of male agonistic behaviour in mice following early exposure to ethanol. Psychopharmacology 52, 31–34 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ewart, F.G., Cutler, M.G. Effects of ethyl alcohol on development and social behaviour in the offspring of laboratory mice. Psychopharmacology 62, 247–251 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431955
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431955