Effects of scopolamine on spontaneous alternation and shuttle avoidance in rats exposed to alcohol in utero

Abstract

The behavioral effects of the anticholinergic scopolamine were examined in rats exposed to alcohol prenatally. Pregnant Long-Evans rats received isocaloric liquid diets containing either 35% or 0% ethanol-derived calories on Days 6–20 of gestation. A pair-feeding procedure was used, and a lab chow control group was also included. In Experiment 1, adult offspring were tested on a spontaneous alternation task following 1 mg/kg scopolamine or saline. Independent of prenatal treatment, scopolamine caused an increase in the number of trials to alternate. In Experiment 2, offspring were tested on a two-way shuttle avoidance learning task following a 1 mg/kg injection of scopolamine or methylscopolamine. Alcohol-exposed animals injected with methylscopolamine made fewer avoidances than controls on the second day of testing while treatment with scopolamine enhanced avoidance performance to control levels. These data suggest that prenatal exposure to alcohol does not interfere with scopolamine-induced changes in the behavior of adult rats.