Adolescent C57BL/6J (but not DBA/2J) Mice Consume Greater Amounts of Limited‐Access Ethanol Compared to Adults and Display Continued Elevated Ethanol Intake into Adulthood

Abstract

Background-Alcohol use is common during the adolescent period, a time at which a number of crucial neurobiological, hormonal, and behavioral changes occur (Spear, 2000). In order to more fully understand the complex interaction between alcohol use and these age-typical neurobiological changes, animal models must be utilized. Rodents experience a developmental period similar to that of adolescence. Although rat models have shown striking adolescent-specific differences in sensitivity to ethanol, little work has been done in mice despite the fact that the C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA2/J (D2) mice have been shown to markedly differ in ethanol preference drinking and exhibit widely different sensitivities to ethanol.

Involvement of the GABAA Receptor in Age‐Dependent Differences in Binge‐Like Ethanol Intake

“…This effect was robust and reliable, as higher EtOH intakes in adolescents were observed in both experiments, and is in agreement with all other drinking studies using limited-access procedures (Bell et al, 2011;Holstein et al, 2011;Moore et al, 2010). Although polydipsia (Bell et al, 2011), hyperphagia (Spear, 2000), or higher social isolation stress (Lopez et al, 2011) in adolescents could contribute to these results, we think these explanations were unlikely.…”

“…These higher levels of alcohol drinking during adolescence have also been reported in rodents using many different paradigms (Bell et al, 2011;Moore et al, 2010;Varlinskaya et al, 2015), including the animal model of binge-like ethanol (EtOH) intake called "Drinking in the Dark" (DID; Rhodes et al, 2005). With this procedure, C57BL/6J (B6) mice given limited access to an unsweetened 20% EtOH solution during their peak arousal voluntarily drink large amounts of alcohol, leading to BECs greater than 80 mg/dl, and display several behavioral markers of intoxication Moore et al, 2007).…”

Developmental differences in ethanol-induced sensitization using postweanling, adolescent, and adult Swiss mice

“…It is also noteworthy that the psychoactive properties of acute ethanol in adolescents, with higher stimulant effects (Quoilin et al 2010;Stevenson et al 2008) and lower sedative effects (Cha et al 2006;Hefner and Holmes 2007;Silveri and Spear 1998), make them more likely to drink higher amounts of alcohol. In agreement with this, previous studies also reported that adolescent rodents voluntarily consume more ethanol than adults (Bell et al 2006a;Doremus et al 2005;Moore et al 2010;Truxell et al 2007). In summary, some human adolescents often drink alcohol in frequency and amounts that should make them especially vulnerable to the phenomenon of sensitization described in the present study.…”

The reinforcing properties of ethanol are quantitatively enhanced in adulthood by peri-adolescent ethanol, but not saccharin, consumption in female alcohol-preferring (P) rats

“…Adolescent consumption of a sweetened solution increased intake of the sweetened solution, but not ethanol or a sweetened ethanol solution (Broadwater et al, 2013). In mice, adolescent ethanol intake can enhance adult ethanol consumption, but this is influenced by gender and genotype (Moore, Mariani, Linsenbardt, Melón, & Boehm, 2010; Strong et al, 2010). …”