Chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats induces emotional and memory deficits associated with morphological and molecular alterations in hippocampus

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that heavy ethanol exposure in early life may produce long-lasting neurobehavioral consequences, since brain structural maturation continues until adolescence. It is well established that females are more susceptible to alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and that ethanol consumption is increasing among women, especially during adolescence. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats may induce hippocampal histological damage and neurobehavioral impairments. Female rats were treated with distilled water or ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day, 22.5% w/v) by gavage from the 35(th)-90(th) day of life. Ethanol-exposed animals displayed reduced exploration of the central area and increased number of fecal boluses in the open field test indicative of anxiogenic responses. Moreover, chronic high ethanol exposure during adolescence induced marked impairments on short-term memory of female rats addressed on social recognition and step-down inhibitory avoidance tasks. These neurobehavioral deficits induced by ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood were accompanied by the reduction of hippocampal formation volume as well as the loss of neurons, astrocytes and microglia cells in the hippocampus. These results indicate that chronic high ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats induces long-lasting emotional and memory deficits associated with morphological and molecular alterations in the hippocampus.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Ethanol Neurotoxicity

“…The CNS is particularly vulnerable to ethanol-induced damage. Pathological alterations in brain structure and neuronal function have been observed in patients and animal models [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ]. Ethanol causes significant damage in several subdivided areas of the brain, such as cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex.…”

“…Ethanol causes significant damage in several subdivided areas of the brain, such as cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. Binge drinking causes long-lasting effects on emotional and memory deficits, suggesting the functional and structural alteration in the hippocampus in adolescent female mice [ 54 ].…”

Cognitive and neurobehavioral benefits of an enriched environment on young adult mice after chronic ethanol consumption during adolescence

“…It causes a significant loss of hippocampal neurons, astrocytes and microglia (Oliveira et al . ), hippocampal shrinkage (De Bellis et al . ) and mitochondrial dysfunction that leads to brain inflammation, synaptic dysfunction and memory loss (Crews et al .…”

Energy Drink Administration in Combination with Alcohol Causes an Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in the Hippocampus and Temporal Cortex of Rats

“…These drinks have been marketed as a way to provide increased alertness [ 8 – 10 ]. Some concerns regarding the combined use of alcohol and EDs have arisen because recent studies indicate that the consumption of EDs induces more alcohol consumption, owing to the reduction of the depressant effects of the alcohol by the EDs [ 11 ] and causing serious physiological problems [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 12 ].…”