Alcohol Delays the Onset of Puberty in the Female Rat by Altering Key Hypothalamic Events

Background Because alcohol (ALC) delays signs of pubertal development, we assessed the time course of events associated with the synthesis of critical hypothalamic peptides that regulate secretion of luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone (LHRH), the peptide that drives the pubertal process. Methods Immature female rats were administered either laboratory chow or BioServe isocaloric control or ALC‐liquid diets from 27 through 33 days of age. On days 28, 29, 31, and 33, animals were killed by decapitation and tissue blocks containing the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and the rostral hypothalamic area (RHA) were isolated and stored frozen until assessed by Western blot analysis. Results Synthesis of dynorphin (DYN), a prepubertal inhibitor of LHRH secretion, was increased (p