Binge ethanol exposure in late gestation induces ethanol aversion in the dam but enhances ethanol intake in the offspring and affects their postnatal learning about ethanol

Abstract

Previous studies show that exposure to 1 or 2 g/kg ethanol during the last days of gestation increases ethanol acceptance in infant rats. We tested whether prenatal exposure to 3 g/kg, a relatively high ethanol dose, generates an aversion to ethanol in both the dam and offspring, and whether this prenatal experience affects the expression of learning derived from ethanol exposure postnatally. The answer was uncertain, since postnatal administration of a 3 g/kg ethanol dose induces an aversion to ethanol after postnatal day 10 but increases ethanol acceptance when administered during the first postnatal week. In the present study pregnant rats received intragastric administrations of water or ethanol (3 g/kg) on gestation days 17-20. On postnatal days 7-8 or 10-11 the offspring were administered water or ethanol (3 g/kg). Intake of ethanol and water, locomotor activity in an open-field and ethanol odor preference were evaluated in the pups, while the mothers were evaluated in terms of ethanol intake. Results indicated an aversion to ethanol in dams that had been administered ethanol during gestation, despite a general increase in ethanol intake observed in their pups relative to controls. The prenatal ethanol exposure also potentiated the increase in ethanol intake observed after intoxication on postnatal days 7-8. Ethanol intoxication on postnatal days 10-11 reduced ethanol consumption; this ethanol aversion was still evident in infant rats exposed prenatally to ethanol despite their general increase in ethanol intake. No effects of prenatal ethanol exposure were observed in terms of motor activity or odor preference. It is concluded that prenatal exposure to ethanol, even in a dose that induces ethanol aversion in the gestating dam, increases ethanol intake in infant rats and that this experience modulates age-related differences in subsequent postnatal learning about ethanol.

The effect of taste familiarity on intake and taste reactivity in infant rats

“…However, since in that study the familiarization procedure involved the ingestion of relatively large amounts of ethanol, sufficient to induce pharmacological effects, it may be concluded that the reported effect was the consequence of an appetitive association between ethanol's flavor and its reinforcing properties, rather than solely an effect of familiarization. Likewise, when comparing the present results with those of studies involving prenatal ethanol exposure in which increased intake, enhanced palatability and even odor preference were observed (Abate et al, 2008;Chotro et al, 2007Chotro et al, , 2009Spear & Molina, 2005;Youngentob & Glendinning, 2009), it remains clear that in all those studies the experience with ethanol necessarily involved a reinforcer in addition to ethanol's flavor.…”

“…With the flavor of ethanol, which is a complex stimulus with gustatory, olfactory and irritant components, it has been found that prenatal exposure induces increased intake and/or enhanced palatability of ethanol in infant and older rats (Abate, Pueta, Spear, & Molina, 2008;Chotro, Arias, & Laviola, 2007;Youngentob & Glendinning, 2009) (Chotro, Arias, & Spear, 2009). Although in most of this research exposure to ethanol also involved the presence of reinforcing consequences, it should be pointed out that when the contiguity of ethanol's flavor with reinforcement was explicitly avoided, no changes were observed either in ethanol consumption (Arias & Chotro, 2006;Chotro & Alonso, 2003;Chotro & Arias, 2003;Chotro et al, 2009) or in reactivity to its flavor (Arias & Chotro, 2005;Dominguez, Chotro, & Molina, 1993;Molina & Chotro, 1991).…”

Ethanol Perinatal Exposure Induces Behavioral Alterations and Ethanol Preference in Adolescent Wistar Rats

“…It has been observed that early experience with alcohol (passive or in the context of operant learning schemes) alter consumption evaluated at later stages of development [27,31,35]. Chotro and collaborators [15] indicate that when rats are exposed to EtOH during late gestation or infancy, even to a dose that induces EtOH aversion in adults, no effects are observed in terms of motor activity or odor preference, although these rats exhibit greater EtOH intake than controls without prenatal EtOH exposure.…”

Alcohol and Developing Neuronal Circuits

“…A large number of studies with rats have assessed the impact of PAE on ethanol intake. Although the results are variable, the majority of these have found an increase in consumption or preference (Barbier et al, 2008;Barbier et al, 2009;Chotro, Arias, & Laviola, 2007;Chotro, Arias, & Spear, 2009;Diaz-Cenzano & Chotro, 2010). Increased ethanol intake has also been demonstrated in mice and guinea pigs exposed to ethanol during fetal development (Randall, Hughes, Williams, & Anton, 1983;Shea, Hewitt, Olmstead, Brien, & Reynolds, 2012).…”