Effects of maternal ethanol ingestion on development of adrenal catecholamines and dopamine-β-hydroxylase in the offspring

Pregnant rats were fed ethanol chronically beginning at day 13 of gestation. Adrenal catecholamines in the offspring showed a 20–30% deficit from 3 to 17 days of postnatal development, while adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity was significantly low after 10 days of age. Upon withdrawal at 0, 3 or 5 days of age, both parameters returned to normal. These data suggest that ethanol exposure causes a reversible retardation in the maturation of adrenal catecholamine stores.