In humans, exposure to ethanol (EtOH) during pregnancy can cause serious changes in morphological, behavioral and cognitive development in children, which may also persist into adulthood. Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) have shown certain distinctive, persistent and subtle patterns of cognitive dysfunction which become more pronounced with more complex psychological assessments. Different animal models have been used to analyze FAS and its consequences in adulthood.In both humans and rodents, one of the most characteristic effects of in utero EtOH intoxication is infant locomotor hyperactivity. However, studies on adult
rats prenatally exposed to EtOH have rendered controversial results. Some authors have reported an increase in locomotor activity, while others have found no hyperactivity. In addition, previous studies found that adolescent mice and infant rats exhibit ethanol-induced locomotor activation. In view of these contrasting results, the aim of this work was to analyze adult behavior in CD1 mice perinatally exposed to EtOH. Primiparous CD1 female mice were exposed to EtOH 6%v/v intake for four weeks previous to mating. Four females were mated with a male in
each cage and each of them placed in an individual cage when pregnancy was confirmed. Pregnant mice continuously drank EtOH 6%v/v throughout pregnancy and lactation, after which EtOH administration was eliminated and male pups were exposed to food and water ad libitum until adulthood. In this model of maternal
alcoholism in CD1 mice, weight gain in pregnant females was similar to that of controls, and the number of offspring did not present variation. Female mice drank 0.261±0,08 ml EtOH/gr/day, which yielded a blood alcohol level of 73,29±8,69 mg/dl at the end of lactation. Using an open field, we studied locomotor activity and parameters such as latency, time spent in periphery, time spent in central square, distance and fecal pellets. In these studies, CD1 adult mice perinatally exposed to low doses of EtOH duplicated the time of latency and traveled a shorter distance. Grants: UBACYT 20020130100258BA (AB), UBACYT 20020130300033BA (LC), PIP CONICET 00269 (AB).