Early adversity and alcohol availability persistently modify serotonin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis metabolism and related behavior: what experimental research on rodents and primates can tell us.
Early experiences have profound influences on individual developmental trajectories. For example alcohol exposure during central nervous system development relates to a number of pathological consequences in adulthood. An increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, like major depression and impulse-control-related pathologies is associated with alcohol exposure during fetal life and/or during adolescence. Additionally, adverse life experiences occurring early in development may exacerbate these consequences, while impinging on the same neural systems affected by precocious alcohol exposure. Conversely, a protective and/or stimulating environment may mitigate these alcohol-related negative outcomes. Experimental research in animal models constitutes a primary source of information in understanding both functional and dysfunctional human adaptations to these events. In this review, a selection of rodent and primate studies shows that developmental ethanol exposure on the one hand, and environmental treatments aimed at modifying the mother-offspring interaction on the other hand, independently modulate similar neuro-endocrine systems. In particular, we discuss the effects that the above-mentioned independent variables exert on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis and on brain serotonergic pathways. Experimental evidence indicates that pathological adaptations of these systems are valuable predictors of human neuro-behavioral abnormalities like depression, impaired impulse control and alcohol abuse. Finally, a working hypothesis is proposed, which combines primate and rodent studies aimed: (i) at studying functional and pathological individual development following early ethanol consumption, and (ii) at heading towards a better definition of potential intervention strategies.
Macrì
Simone
S
Section of Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Spinelli
Simona
S
Adriani
Walter
W
Dee Higley
James
J
Laviola
Giovanni
G
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011323:Primates; D012377:Rodentia; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol