Chronic alcohol exposure and lactation: extended observations.

Previous results from our laboratory have indicated that chronic (8 days) alcohol administration inhibits suckling-induced prolactin (PRL) release in response to 30 min of suckling. In addition, chronic alcohol administration to dams resulted in growth retardation of their litters. The present study was done to examine how an extended period of suckling (120 min) affected suckling-induced PRL release after chronic alcohol exposure. In addition, it was also examined whether the growth retardation observed during alcohol exposure persisted after alcohol infusions were discontinued. Dams were implanted with an atrial catheter on day 3 of lactation and saline or alcohol (1.0- or 2.0-g/kg BW) was administered daily for 8 days (lactation days 5 through 12). Following administration of the initial alcohol dose, the infusion was continued at rates required to maintain blood alcohol levels (BALs) for 4 h each day. Testing took place on day 12. As previously reported, suckling-induced PRL release was inhibited in dams receiving 2.0-g/kg alcohol after 30 min of suckling. However, after 120 min of suckling, PRL release in these dams was much higher than in either control or 1.0-g/kg alcohol dams. In addition, while the body weights of litters of dams administered 2.0-g/kg alcohol were reduced compared to litters of dams in the other two groups on days 8-16, their body weights rebounded and were not different from the other litters on days 18 or 20.