Premium
Genetic and ethanol‐related differences in maternal behavior and offspring viability in mice
Author(s) -
Swanberg Karen M.,
Wilson James R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420120107
Subject(s) - offspring , ethanol , weaning , narcotic , lactation , biology , medicine , physiology , pregnancy , zoology , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics , anesthesia
Primiparous female mice of 2 lines genetically selected for different narcotic responses to ethanol were administered 10% (v/v) ethanol in their drinking water during Days 2–14 of lactation. Ethanol treatment resulted in a marked decrease in growth and viability of pups in both lines. Fewer offspring of the ethanol‐sensitive line survived to weaning, apparently because of the failure of a large number of dams to exhibit maternal care. The combination of ethanol treatment and an additional environmental stressor (mouse hepatic virus) had a devastating effect on maternal behavior and offspring survival in the ethanol‐sensitive line, but far less effect on the ethanol‐insensitive mice. Thus, ethanol‐sensitive animals appear to be more susceptible to a variety of stressors, including ethanol.