[Effect of alcoholic intoxication in female rats on the functioning of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal cortex system of their progeny].

Administration of alcohol (20% ethanol) to female rats for the whole pregnancy leads to activation in the progeny of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical system (GPACS). This manifests in an increase in corticoliberin production by neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus, secretion of ACTH by the pituitary, and high production of corticosteroids by the adrenals. Activation of the GPACS which is demonstrable in fetuses and in young rats aged 1-3 days and 1 and 3 months is replaced by this system inhibition by the age of 6 months. Therefore, alcoholic intoxication of the mother's body has a toxic effect on all the components of the GPACS (production of corticoliberin and ACTH, corticosteroid function of the adrenals).