Ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt affects social behavior and increases susceptibility to acute ethanol effects during adolescence in male mice.

Ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt affects social behavior and increases susceptibility to acute ethanol effects during adolescence in male mice. Int J Dev Neurosci. 2020 Feb 19;: Authors: Demarque KC, Dutra-Tavares AC, Nunes-Freitas AL, Araújo UC, Manhães AC, Abreu-Villaça Y, Filgueiras CC, Ribeiro-Carvalho A Abstract The brain is particularly vulnerable to ethanol effects during its growth spurt. Outcomes of early ethanol exposure such as hyperactivity have been extensively investigated; however, persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder frequently have social impairments and are heavy drinkers. Despite that, scant information is available regarding the neurobiological basis of these latter behavioral issues. Here, Swiss mice exposed to ethanol (Etoh, 5 g/Kg i.p., alternate days) or saline during the brain growth spurt [postnatal day (PN) 2 to 8] were used to assess social behavior after an ethanol challenging during adolescence: At PN39, animals were administered with a single ethanol dose (1 g/Kg) or water by gavage and were then evaluated in the three-chamber sociability test. We also evaluated corticosterone serum levels and the frontal cerebral cortex serotoninergic system. Etoh males showed reductions in sociability. Ethanol challenging reverted these alterations in social behavior, reduced corticosterone levels and increased 5-HT2 receptor binding of male Etoh mice. No alterations were observed in 5-HT an...
Source: International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Int J Dev Neurosci Source Type: research