Rahebeh Mahdinia - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
Iran Goudarzi - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
Taghi Lashkarbolouki - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran
Mahmoud Elahdadi Salmani - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran

Background and Aim : It is well documented that prenatal alcohol exposure have teratogenic effects on the developing fetus with resulting physical, and behavioral impairments specially impaired learning and memory. These teratogenic effects are thought to result from the ethanol induced dysregulation of a variety of intracellular pathways such as producing oxidative stress ultimately culminating in toxicity and cell death. The aim of study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E (as a potent antioxidant) on learning and memory deficits induced by maternal ethanol exposure in offspring.Methods : Pregnant Wistar rats received ethanol (4 g/kg) and vitamin E (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) on day 1 of gestation (GD) until weaning (28 days) by oral gavage. On postnatal days (PD) 29, the performance of spatial learning and memory of all rats was measured using the Morris water maze (MWM).Results : Results of present study demonstrated that ethanol exposure could induce learning and memory deficits as ethanol exposed rats had higher escape latency during training trials and reduced time spent in target quadrant, higher escape location latency and average proximity in probe trial test. Vitamin E with doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased escape latency and distance moved during training trials and increased time spent in target quadrant (dose 400 mg/kg) during Morris water maze task.Conclusion : We conclude that vitamin E administration dose dependently improve learning and memory deficits induced by perinatal ethanol exposure in rats

ethanol, vitamin E, learning and memory