POSTNATAL METABOLIC CHANGES IN THE PUPS OF RATS EXPOSED TO TODDY (PALM WINE) DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Female rats were exposed to teddy (palm wine) (24.5 ml kg(-1) body wei ght day(-1)) and ethanol (0.52 ml kg(-1) body weight day(-1)) before c onception and throughout gestation and lactation. For 21 days pups wer e nursed by their own mothers, afterwards they were fed normal laborat ory feed. Examination of the lipid profile of various tissues of 21 da y-old pups revealed marked hyperlipidemia. The tissues of 45 day-old p ups showed that even though there was some regression in the lipid acc umulation, the status of hyperlipidemia prevailed. The lipogenesis was enhanced on both the days studied as evidenced by the increased activ ity of the lipogenic enzymes, HMG Co A reductase and incorporation of C-14 acetate to lipids. Catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids was de creased. The biochemical alterations produced in the pups by teddy and its equivalent in alcohol were different, showing that the non-alcoho lic portion of the teddy interfered with the lipid metabolism. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.