Fetal associative learning mediated through maternal alcohol intoxication

PAULA ABATE; DOMINGUEZ HD; PEPINO MYPINO MY; SPEAR NEAR NE; MOLINA JC

ALCOHOLISM: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2000 vol. 24 p. 39 - 47

0145-6008

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze whether alcohol as an unconditionedstimulus is capable of supporting associative learning in near term fetuses.Methods: In Experiment 1 pharmacokinetic profiles of alcohol and of an aromatic substance(cineole) in amniotic fluid and maternal blood were determined during late gestation. The resultssobtained through gas chromatographic analyisis allowed a second experiment in which peaklevels of cineole were explicitly paired with peak levels of alcohol in amniotic fluid and blood,by intragastrically administering cineole and ethanol to the dams during gestational days GDs 17-20 (Paired condition). Control groups were dams given cineole four hours prior tocommencement of an acute state of alcohol intoxication (Long-delay Group) or were onlyexposed to water administrations (Water Control Group). The progeny were evaluated duringpostnatal day 16 in terms of behavioral responsiveness to intraorally infused solutions (cineole oralcohol presented in milk vehicle, or milk alone).