Effects of chronic and acute ethanol treatment during prenatal and early postnatal ages on testosterone levels and sexual behaviors in rats.

This study was prompted by previous findings that prenatal ethanol exposure may interfere with the differentiation of the sexual behavior in rats. Ethanol (6 g/kg) administered daily from day 15 postconception, resulted in elevated testosterone (T) levels on Day 18 in male and female fetuses. No alterations of sexual behavior in the ethanol-treated male offspring were seen under these conditions. However, in ethanol-treated female offspring the onset of regular estrous cycling was significantly delayed. Acute treatment with doses of ethanol, 2, 4 or 6 g/kg, was ineffective in influencing plasma T levels of the fetuses. Acute treatment with 3 g/kg ethanol did not prevent the rise of T levels normally occurring immediately after birth. In adulthood, but not at prepubertal age (Day 30), treatment of male rats with 2 g/kg ethanol caused a depression of plasma T levels. Possible mechanisms affected by ethanol exposure and influencing on the fetal development were discussed.