Effects of perinatal exposure of mice to non-alcoholic malt beverage "beer" on the offspring.)‎

Abstract EN

Pregnant Swiss-Webster strain mice were administered 'beer' at the doses of 20 and 40% (v/v) diluted with tap water.

Treatment started from day 1 of pregnancy and continued until postnatal day 14.

The mothers were then switched to tap water.

Offspring were observed from the day of their birth until postnatal day 21 (PD2l) of their weaning period.

Beer-exposed pups gained significant (and dose-dependent) body weight.

Further, the eyes opened early and the body hairs appeared earlier than in the non-treated pups.

An increase in the fresh weight of brain and liver tissues was recorded in the treated pups.

The righting and rotating reflexes as well as the cliff avoidance activity were found to be stimulated in the treated pups from the day of their birth until PD7.

Alterations in the levels of enzymes, like total acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase and acetylcholinesterase, were also noticed in the brain and liver tissues of the treated pups through various postnatal development stages.

The results indicate possible teratological and/or beneficial effects of non-alcoholic beer on mice.

Further studies on the constituents of such beer may provide clues to identify the active ingredients in this beer.

However, it is concluded that the esterases, studied herein, can be used as convenient markers for teratological studies in mice pups during the early postnatal developing weaning stages.