Paternal effects of ethanol in the long-evans rat

Abstract

Ten male Long-Evans rats were given 20% v/v ethanol in the drinking water for 60 consecutive days. Ten other males were given distilled water and served as controls. Each male was then allowed to mate with three virgin female Long-Evans rats, once per week for three consecutive weeks. The males were necropsied after the third mating, the females were killed on d 20 of gestation, and the offspring were examined for parameters of fetal growth, skeletal ossification, and soft-tissue anomalies. Ethanol caused testicular weight reductions and gross testicular atrophy in 1 of 10 males. Five matings of alcoholic male rats proved infertile. Total embryonic deaths (resorptions and preimplantation loss) were increased by ethanol, while implantations and litter size were significantly decreased. Fetuses fathered by alcoholic male rats were malformed: 55% had soft-tissue anomalies (microcephalus, microphthalmia, cranial fissure, and hydronephrosis). Litter weight and average pups weights were also reduced by paternal ethanol consumption. No recovery in reproductive function was evident over the 21-d post-ethanol mating period.