Like with mice, all the hallmark features of FASD have been demonstrated in rats including growth retardation (174, 188), structural abnormalities (31, 79, 80, 181, 183, 190–193), CNS dysfunction (88, 89, 124, 179, 180, 189, 194), and cognitive deficits (55, 56, 78, 95, 174–178, 184–187). Many of the impairments observed are dose and timing dependent, but are observed across the lifespan and with all routes of ethanol administration. It is also possible to screen potential therapeutics in rat models of FASD and many treatments given either concomitantly with ethanol or following ethanol exposure (i.e., by supplementing offspring after birth) show promise for the mitigation or reversal of some of the cognitive impairments associated with FASD (56, 89, 90, 122).
