effects of prenatal and postnatal ethanol exposure on spatial learning in the rat

The effects of prenatal ethanol exposure, via a liquid diet containing 35% ethanol derived calories, on spatial learning were assessed in the radial arm maze and Morris water maze at 30 and 60 days of age. No significant affects of ethanol exposure were found on either task at either age. The effects of postnatal ethanol exposure, via self administration of a 15% ethanol solution, on spatial learning were assessed in the radial arm maze and Morris water maze. No significant effects of ethanol exposure were found on either task at either 30 or 60 days of age. Subtle differences in performance in the radial arm maze were found at 30 days of age in both the prenatally and postnatally ethanol exposed groups. These differences suggest that the exposure to ethanol postnatally may be interfering with the rate of learning and the ability to learn.