RESPONSE TO OVULATORY INDUCTION FOLLOWING MODERATE CHRONIC ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION IN MICE

Chronic consumption of alcohol produces deleterious effects on female reproductive function. Alterations in ovarian function depend on the d ose and exposure period. However, the mechanism of alcohol-induced ova rian failure remains in question. We have studied the effects of moder ate chronic ethanol treatment on female mice throughout the peripubert al period. Immature females were treated with 10% ethanol in drinking water for 30 days. They were induced to superovulate with pregnant mar e's serum gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). At 14 , 16 and 20 h post-hCG the numbers of mature follicles and ovarian and oviductal oocytes were assessed. At 16 h post-hCG the number of matur e follicles in the ethanol-treated females was higher than in the cont rols, and the quantity of the oviductal oocytes lower. At 20 h post-hC G, the number of oviductal oocytes was similar in both groups. These f indings demonstrate that chronic consumption of 10 % (w/v) ethanol can delay follicular maturation and ovulation time. (C) 1998 Chapman & Ha ll Ltd.