Prenatal alcohol consumption and open-field behaviour in rats: Effects of age at time of testing

Abstract

Throughout gestation pregnant Wistar rats consumed a nutritious liquid diet containing 35% ethanol-derived calories. Control mothers were fed lab-chow. Subsequently, the offspring of the ethanolfed mothers displayed significantly greater activity (ambulation) in an open-field test at 28 and at 56 days of age, but not at 112 days of age. No differences in defecation were observed at any age.