Our previous studies indicate that rat pups are able to detect the low leve
ls of ethanol (175 mg %) found in the milk of a moderately intoxicated dam.
The present study tested the effect of infantile interactions (including s
uckling) with ethanol-treated mothers on later behavioral responsiveness to
ethanol's sensory properties. In Experiment 1, pups suckled from dams subj
ected to a 2.5 g/kg ethanol dose (i.g.) or water-treated females during pos
tnatal days (PDs) 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13. During PD 15, these pups were exp
osed to procedures to induce a conditioned aversion to the low level of eth
anol (175 mg % in water), with lithium chloride as the unconditioned stimul
us. Conditioning was more effective for pups with the prior ethanol experie
nce within the nursing context. Greater responsiveness to ethanol in milk a
lso was found for conditioning control pups that had interacted with intoxi
cated dams than for those that had interacted with water-treated dams. Expe
riment 2 determined that interaction with an intoxicated dam was sufficient
for altered responsiveness to ethanol, in that the additional conditioning
procedures of Experiment 1 were not needed for the effect. Generally, a re
latively brief history of infantile interaction with ethanol-intoxicated da
ms increased later responsiveness to ethanol's orosensory properties. The r
esults suggest that moderately intoxicated dams within the nursing context
provide information to the progeny that may lead to the establishment of et
hanol-related memories. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.