title: Influence of hormonal status on behavioral responses to an acute ethanol challenge during ethanol withdrawal in male and female rats.
abstract: We previously reported significant sex differences in ethanol withdrawal (EW) recovery as well as in sensitivity to GABA(A) receptor modulators during EW. The aim of the present study was to determine if hormonal status moderated behavioral responses to an acute ethanol challenge in EW animals comparing two different behaviors. An initial set of experiments explored motor-incoordinating effects of the acute ethanol injection during EW at either 1 day or 3 days of withdrawal. EW male, but not female, rats showed a decrease in coordination compared to controls that persisted through 3 days EW. Female rats displayed tolerance to the motor-incoordinating actions of the acute ethanol challenge at 1 day EW whereas tolerance was more evident in EW male rats at 3 days. In contrast, EW animals generally remained responsive to the anticonvulsant actions of ethanol, irrespective of hormonal status. While EW by itself did not significantly alter seizure latency, duration or severity, it increased seizure-induced mortality especially at 3 days EW. There was some evidence of tolerance to the anticonvulsant effect of the acute ethanol challenge at the lowest dose employed (0.62 g/kg), which varied by sex condition and time of EW. All sex conditions displayed marked sensitivity to the anticonvulsant effects of the ethanol challenge at the two higher doses studied. Overall, ovariectomized females showed the greatest response to the acute ethanol administration. These findings provide additional evidence of a divergence in behavioral responses during EW and suggest that multiple neuroadaptations moderate various responses to ethanol during EW, with minor contributions of hormonal status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State University College of Pharmacy, Pocatello, ID 83209-8334, USA.
authors.forename: Bikul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koirala
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Alele
authors.forename: Leslie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Devaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006728:Hormones; D000431:Ethanol; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole