Prenatal exposure to ethanol alters [3h]naloxone binding in rat striatum.

Pregnant rats were administered ethanol from day 8 of pregnancy until the day of delivery. Control rats were given isocaloric replacement of sucrose. [3H]Naloxone binding was determined in the striatum of pups of various ages in both groups. The binding was significantly lower in the pups of ethanol treated mothers than in pups of control mothers at all ages examined. The findings suggests an interference in the normal development of striatal receptors in rats prenatally exposed to ethanol.