Alcohol Studies in translational models: behavioural consequences of adolescent exposure and novel approaches to reduce the propensity to relapse
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Rationale.Most people start drinking alcoholic beverages during adolescence.Although several epidemiological studies indicate that excessive alcohol consumption during this developmental period may be particularly harmful, preclinical data on the long-term consequences of adolescent alcohol exposure remain sparse.Objectives.We explored the putative long-term effects of adolescent alcohol exposure on alcohol-taking and seeking as well as on measures of attention and impulsivity.To this end, peri-adolescent (postnatal day (PND) 34-43) and postadolescent (PND 60-69) male Wistar rats were exposed to alcohol using two distinct standardized protocols; i.e. a continuous self-administration (CSA) protocol or an intermittent, binge-like injection (BLI) protocol.Depending on the test group they were assigned to, CSA animals had a free choice between either (1) two water bottles, (2) water and sweetened water (saccharin, 0.2%) or (3) water and sweetened alcohol (10%v/v).The BLI groups were injected, every other day, with either saline or alcohol (2.5 g/kg, i.p., 20%v/v).Five weeks after treatment, the performance of these animals was examined in either the operant alcohol self-administration-reinstatement paradigm (SA) or the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT).Results.Peri-but not post-adolescence exposure to BLI alcohol-treatment increased alcohol-intake in adulthood.In contrast, CSA-treated rats acquired alcohol SA at the same rate as age-matched controls.Both types of treatment left extinction rates and vulnerability to relapse to alcohol-seeking unaffected.Neither CSA nor BLI alcohol exposure affected visuospatial attention or inhibitory response control in the 5-CSRTT.Finally, sensitivity to alcohol challenges in the 5-CSRTT was not altered by any form of alcohol exposure. Conclusion.Independent from social, environmental and genetic influences peri-adolescent BLI alcohol exposure, but not CSA alcohol treatment, facilitated alcohol-intake in later life.Neither form of adolescent alcohol exposure induced long-term effects on measures of visuospatial attentional or inhibitory response control.These results are consistent with human data showing that excessive alcohol-use during adolescence is associated with a higher risk of alcohol-abuse in later life.
Author: Wouda, J.A.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2108831207