ALCOHOL-INDUCED CHANGES IN BLOOD-GASES, GLUCOSE, AND LACTATE IN PREGNANT AND NONPREGNANT RATS

The effects of alcohol and pregnancy on venous blood pH, gases (pO(2), pCO(2)), bicarbonate (HCO3-), and glucose and lactate were examined i n pregnant and nonpregnant female rats using anaerobic analytical meth ods of blood collection. Baseline measurements were obtained prior to treatment and then at 30 min, 1, 2, and 4 h after gastric intubation w ith 0, 2, 4, or 6 g/kg of alcohol. Alcohol produced a metabolic acidos is, increases in blood glucose and lactate concentrations, and an incr ease in blood oxygen concentration. Gestation days 18-19 (0.8 gestatio n) of pregnancy were associated with a slight alkalosis, a decrease in oxygen concentration, no effect on glucose concentrations, and an inc rease in lactate concentrations compared with nonpregnancy. The only s ignificant interaction between alcohol and pregnancy occurred for pO(2 ) and O-2C, wherein alcohol increased both of these parameters in nonp regnant animals only. These results indicate that the rat's pH respons e to acute alcohol infusion is unique because alcohol does not produce any significant changes in blood pH in other animal models. This chan ge was similar in both pregnant and nonpregnant animals. Except for ch anges in blood oxygen content, the pregnant and nonpregnant female rat 's response to alcohol were also similar as well.