J.E. ONU - Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

The effect of maternal alcohol consumption onthe growth rate of accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles, prostate andbulbourethral glands ) in neonatal mice was investigated using ۱۲۰ male miceoffspring obtained from ۳۶ female mice divided into three groups, ۱, ۲ and ۳ of۱۲ mice each. The pups of group ۱ served as control while those of groups ۲ and۳ were given ۳۰% ethanol (v/v) during pregnancy (P) and during pregnancy andlactation (PL) respectively. At ۳, ۴, ۵ and ۶ weeks of age, ۱۰ male pups wererandomly selected from each of the three groups and sacrificed. Aftersacrifice, the accessory sex organs were dissected out and their weightsdetermined. Thereafter, the relative growth rates of the organs weredetermined. The results showed significant increase (p<۰.۰۵) in the growthrates of accessory sex organs in P and PL when compared with the control. Theinvestigation has therefore demonstrated that maternal alcohol intake duringpregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation affects the growth rate of accessorysex organs in the neonates and that the organs attempted catch-up growth withthe control.The effect of maternal alcohol consumption onthe growth rate of accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles, prostate andbulbourethral glands ) in neonatal mice was investigated using ۱۲۰ male miceoffspring obtained from ۳۶ female mice divided into three groups, ۱, ۲ and ۳ of۱۲ mice each. The pups of group ۱ served as control while those of groups ۲ and۳ were given ۳۰% ethanol (v/v) during pregnancy (P) and during pregnancy andlactation (PL) respectively. At ۳, ۴, ۵ and ۶ weeks of age, ۱۰ male pups wererandomly selected from each of the three groups and sacrificed. Aftersacrifice, the accessory sex organs were dissected out and their weightsdetermined. Thereafter, the relative growth rates of the organs weredetermined. The results showed significant increase (p<۰.۰۵) in the growthrates of accessory sex organs in P and PL when compared with the control. Theinvestigation has therefore demonstrated that maternal alcohol intake duringpregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation affects the growth rate of accessorysex organs in the neonates and that the organs attempted catch-up growth withthe control.

Alcohol;Pregnancy;Lactation;Accessory sex organs;Growth