Endocrine effects of meternal alcoholization: plasma and brain testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and corticosterone.
Maternal ethanol consumption was associated with reduced levels of dihydrotestosterone in the brains of 1--2-day-old male rats when compared to those of sex-matched pups obtained from dames that were fed sucrose. In contrast, brain levels of corticosterone were increased significantly in the pups of ethanol-fed animals when compared to those from sucrose-fed controls. Brain and plasma estradiol did not differ between groups. These results suggest that maternal ethanol consumption may influence the central nervous system and plasma levels of certain steroidal hormones in the offspring.