Alcohol treatment during lactation produces an advance in the onset of puberty in female rats

Abstract 

It has been described that alcohol treatment after weaning produces a delay in the onset of puberty and a decrease in the body weight of female rats; however, during development, there are periods with different sensitivity to endogenous and exogenous substances. In this study, two daily doses of 2.5 g/kg of ethanol each administered to female pups during days 13–18 of postnatal age produced an advance in the age at vaginal opening but induced no effect on the body weight; however, the onset of sexual behavior was not advanced. Fertility and reproduction measures were not significantly impaired by this treatment. It is supported that, in this period, alcohol can produce different effects — even opposite to those described in other developmental stages — which seems to represent a critical period for alcohol action.

Keywords:  Alcohol, Critical periods, Lactation, Onset of puberty, Female rats