Adolescent binge drinking in male Wistar rats increases ethanol consumption and reduces intoxication sensitivity in early adulthood without affecting withdrawal.
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| Title: | Adolescent binge drinking in male Wistar rats increases ethanol consumption and reduces intoxication sensitivity in early adulthood without affecting withdrawal. |
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| Authors: | Ravasi, Camila (AUTHOR), Salguero, Agustín (AUTHOR), Marengo, Leonardo (AUTHOR), Peñalver, Pedro (AUTHOR), Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 2026, Vol. 52 Issue 2, p139-150. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Alcohol drinking, Alcoholic intoxication, Alcoholism, Laboratory rats, Drug withdrawal symptoms, Underage drinking, Compulsive behavior, Anxiety disorders |
| Abstract (English): | Background: Early adolescent ethanol exposure increases the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. The mechanisms underlying this relationship may involve early ethanol exposure influencing anxiety or altering ethanol sensitivity. Objectives: To examine how adolescent binge drinking impacts sensitivity to ethanol intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and ethanol intake in adulthood. Methods: Thirty-seven male Wistar rats self-administered ethanol during adolescence [postnatal days (PD) 27–45] or were housed under control conditions. In adulthood, the rats received intragastric intubations to simulate heavy alcohol (PDs 61–65, 3 daily doses of 0.0 or 1.5 g/kg) exposure. Intoxication and withdrawal symptoms were assessed (PDs 61–70), along with compulsive behaviors (marble burying test, PD68) and anxiety-related behaviors (light-dark box and elevated plus maze tests, PDs 69–70). Two-bottle choice tests provided measures of ethanol intake (PDs 75–87). Results: Adolescent binge exposure increased ethanol consumption in adulthood (p <.001; η2 = 0.51), with binge-exposed rats drinking 4.5–6.5 g/kg/day vs. 2 g/kg/day in controls. Binge-exposed rats exhibited reduced sensitivity to ethanol intoxication (p <.05; η2 = 0.17). Withdrawal symptoms were significantly greater (p <.005; η2 = 0.36) in rats exposed to alcohol during adulthood compared to controls, regardless of binge ethanol exposure. Anxiety or compulsive behaviors were unaffected by binge ethanol. Conclusions: Adolescent binge drinking led, in male rats, to significant increases in ethanol intake and reduced sensitivity to intoxication in adulthood. These findings suggest that early ethanol exposure results in decreased ethanol sensitivity, potentially increasing the likelihood of ethanol use. Adolescent binge drinking is a key vulnerability factor, and interventions should target this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Spanish): | Antecedentes: La exposición al etanol en la adolescencia incrementa el riesgo de desarrollar un trastorno por uso de alcohol. Los mecanismos subyacentes a esta relación pueden incluir la influencia de la exposición temprana en la ansiedad o la alteración de la sensibilidad al etanol. Objetivos: Examinar, en ratas Wistar, cómo la exposición al etanol en la adolescencia afecta, en la adultez, la sensibilidad a la intoxicación por etanol, los síntomas de abstinencia, los comportamientos de ansiedad y compulsivos, y la ingesta de etanol. Métodos: Treinta y siete ratas macho Wistar fueron expuestas o no (grupo control) a autoadministración de etanol durante la adolescencia (días postnatales 27-45, DPs 27-45). En la adultez recibieron intubaciones de etanol (DPs 61-65: 3 dosis diarias de 0.0 o 1.5 g/kg). Se evaluaron síntomas de intoxicación y abstinencia (DPs 61–70), comportamientos compulsivos (prueba de enterrado de canicas, DP68) y comportamientos ansiosos (caja luz-oscuridad y laberinto elevado en cruz, DPs 69-70). Pruebas de dos botellas midieron ingesta de etanol (DPs 75-87). Resultados: La exposición en la adolescencia aumentó significativamente el consumo de etanol en la adultez (p <.001; η2 = 0.51) y redujo la sensibilidad a la intoxicación (p <.05; η2 = 0.17), pero no afectó los síntomas de abstinencia ni los comportamientos ansiosos o compulsivos. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos sugieren que la exposición temprana al etanol disminuye la sensibilidad al etanol, lo que puede aumentar la probabilidad del uso posterior. El consumo excesivo de etanol en la adolescencia es un factor clave de vulnerabilidad, y las intervenciones deberían centrarse en este comportamiento. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Early adolescent ethanol exposure increases the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. The mechanisms underlying this relationship may involve early ethanol exposure influencing anxiety or altering ethanol sensitivity. Objectives: To examine how adolescent binge drinking impacts sensitivity to ethanol intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and ethanol intake in adulthood. Methods: Thirty-seven male Wistar rats self-administered ethanol during adolescence [postnatal days (PD) 27–45] or were housed under control conditions. In adulthood, the rats received intragastric intubations to simulate heavy alcohol (PDs 61–65, 3 daily doses of 0.0 or 1.5 g/kg) exposure. Intoxication and withdrawal symptoms were assessed (PDs 61–70), along with compulsive behaviors (marble burying test, PD68) and anxiety-related behaviors (light-dark box and elevated plus maze tests, PDs 69–70). Two-bottle choice tests provided measures of ethanol intake (PDs 75–87). Results: Adolescent binge exposure increased ethanol consumption in adulthood (p <.001; η2 = 0.51), with binge-exposed rats drinking 4.5–6.5 g/kg/day vs. 2 g/kg/day in controls. Binge-exposed rats exhibited reduced sensitivity to ethanol intoxication (p <.05; η2 = 0.17). Withdrawal symptoms were significantly greater (p <.005; η2 = 0.36) in rats exposed to alcohol during adulthood compared to controls, regardless of binge ethanol exposure. Anxiety or compulsive behaviors were unaffected by binge ethanol. Conclusions: Adolescent binge drinking led, in male rats, to significant increases in ethanol intake and reduced sensitivity to intoxication in adulthood. These findings suggest that early ethanol exposure results in decreased ethanol sensitivity, potentially increasing the likelihood of ethanol use. Adolescent binge drinking is a key vulnerability factor, and interventions should target this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00952990 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/00952990.2025.2464644 |
