Effects of Ethanol during the Onset of Female Puberty

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Abstract
To assess more closely the physiological mechanism(s) by which ethanol (ETOH) delays the onset of female puberty, we have evaluated its effects on body weight, the vaginal opening (VO)-first diestrus (D1) interval and the serum concentrations of growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) throughout the peripubertal period in the rat. Using a specific intragastric feeding regimen, 29-day-old rats began receiving either a liquid diet containing ETOH or an isocaloric control liquid diet. Additional controls consisted of animals maintained on laboratory chow and water provided ad libitum. Animals were either killed between 32 and 37 days of age, categorized with regard to their phase of puberty and their serum hormones measured; or, in some animals, the ETOH liquid diet was administered through day 41 and at that time replaced by the control liquid diet in order to determine if recovery would occur. Our results indicate that ETOH-treated animals showed significantly lower body weights and a significantly longer mean VO-D1 interval than the control animals. Also, serum GH and LH levels were significantly lower in the ETOH-treated animals; however, FSH levels were not affected. Administration of the ETOH liquid diet through day 41 produced varying detrimental effects on the onset of puberty and subsequent removal of ETOH from the diet resulted in rapid growth of the animals, followed by the onset of puberty. These results demonstrate: (a) that ETOH administration during the peripubertal period delays the onset of female puberty in the rat; (b) that this effect is associated with deficiencies in both GH and LH secretion, and (c) that, although delayed, growth and sexual maturity can occur after removal from the drug from the diet.