The low and high postpubertal ethanol use: long-term effects on drinkers’ reproductive parameters and ethanol-naive offspring development

Abstract The relationship between adolescent ethanol uses and its impacts throughout life is not conclusive. Thus, we evaluated if the low and high consumption of ethanol during the postpuberty period interferes with reproduction in adulthood, the ethanol-naive offspring development and if there are dose-related effects. Females and males’ rats were divided into three groups: low drinker (L), with UChA rats fed with ethanol ad libitum drinking < 1.9 g / kg / day, high drinker (H), with UChB rats fed with ethanol ad libitum drinking from 2 to 5 g / kg / day, and control (C), with rats without access to ethanol. The L and H groups were exposed to ethanol 10% (v/ v) from 65 to 80 days, with withdrawal after this period. The study was conducted in two phases. The retrospective analysis (1st phase) verified the consumption of ethanol between sexes, the litter size, and the sex ratio of offspring. The gestational and reproductive parameters of parents and the development of pups were analyzed in the 2nd phase. We observed a higher consumption of ethanol in females and a reduced litter size in both drinkers’ groups. Body weight gain and gestational feed consumption were lower in L and H. The offspring’s body weight was also lower associated with alteration in landmarks of physical development. The high postpubertal ethanol use accents the impacts on consumers and offspring. The paternal and maternal reproductive organs weight was altered in group H, with an increase in morphologically abnormal sperm. We conclude that low and high post-pubertal alcohol consumption impairs reproductive parameters, even after withdrawal with long-term effects. Ethanol-naive offspring are also harmed, with effects associated with the dose of ethanol.