TNF and atherosclerosis: Aortic wall thickness significantly increased in the ethanol-exposed group at postnatal days 21 and 90. Inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, endothelin-1 and nuclear factor (NF)-κ, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 significantly increased in the ethanol-exposed group (p < 0.001), predisposing the aorta to atherosclerosis. SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and dicrotic pressure were significantly higher in rat offspring with ethanol exposure.