Minimal impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on metabolism and physical performance in adult FVB/NJ mice.

Aim: To determine the generational metabolic and performance effects of first trimester alcohol exposure in a mouse model of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) that minimizes stress on the dam.

Methods: FVB/NJ male and female mice were mated and then fed either control or alcohol Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet the first 10 days of pregnancy. Offspring completed metabolic and physical assessments in adulthood.

Results: Despite no effects of PAE on body weight and body composition sex in adulthood, PAE differentially affected fat oxidation and respiratory exchange ratio between sexes, while carbohydrate metabolism, VO2, ambulation, and heat were not affected. PAE led to glucose intolerance at 90 min but no other differences in response to a glucose bolus. Neither male nor female PAE mice differed from control on physical performance tests, including grip strength, treadmill run to fatigue, and rotarod.

Conclusion: Consistent exposure to alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy subtly affected fat metabolism differently between sexes and glucose clearance, although these alterations did not affect any other metabolic, physical, or compositional measures. Therefore, any long-lasting metabolic effects of PAE did not seem to impair physical performance on aerobic or strength-based exercise tests.