The Effects of Physostigmine on Open‐Field Behavior in Rats Exposed to Alcohol Prenatally

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of physostigmine, a chofin-esterase inhibitor, on activity in young rats whose mothers consumed isocaloric liquid diets containing 35% or 0% ethand-derived calories on days 6–20 of pregnancy. A pair-feeding procedure was utilized and an ad libitum lab chow group was included. Physostigmine was administered to 18-day-oM offspring on 3 consecutive days with activity measures recorded for 30 mm each day. Injections of physostigmine produced significant reductions in activity in alcohol-exposed offspring relative to control groups. These results provide support for a functional cholinergic deficit in offspring exposed to alcohol in utero and may have relevant clinical implications in the treatment of atterrtional deficit disorder which can occur following prenatal alcohol exposure.