Effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on nutritional status in three successive generations of rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on the nutritional status of three successive generations of rats. Ethanol treated rats received ad libitum 5, 10 and 15% ethanol in their drinking fluid over 3 successive weeks. Then, a concentration of 20% was maintained for 5 additional weeks and until the end of the experimental period. Males and females in the ethanol treated group were mated to obtain the 1st generation offspring. Subsequently, females and males from the 1st generation offspring were mated to obtain the 2nd generation offspring. Finally, males and females of the 2nd generation offspring were mated to obtain the 3rd generation offspring of ethanol treated rats. Another group served as control and received only water, a standard rat chow diet, and was handled in the same way as the other experimental groups. The results indicated that the body weight of (21-days post-natal) ethanol treated rats was significantly lower than that of the control group. Intestinal length/body weight ratios of (6-months post-natal) ethanol treated rats, were significantly greater in the 1st and 2nd generation, but the 3rd generation ethanol treated rats tended to attain weights and ratios comparable to controls. In both the 1st and 2nd generation offspring, the mean total calorie consumption was not different from that of the control group, but the proportion of calories from chow was reduced. Conversely, the 3rd generation offspring consumed more calories. Furthermore, the body weight at the end of the experimental period in the 1st and 2nd generation offspring was lower than the control group, but the body weight of the 3rd generation was not different in the two groups. In conclusion these results indicate a possible effect of ethanol ingestion on the nutritional status of 1st and 2nd generation offspring.