title: Similar ethanol drinking in adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice after chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing evidence shows that excessive alcohol consumption during adolescence increases vulnerability to alcohol use disorders in adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine differences between adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice in drinking behavior and blood ethanol (EtOH) concentrations (BECs) after chronic EtOH exposure and withdrawal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male adolescent (PND = 28 to 30) and adult (PND = 70) C57BL/6J mice were allowed to consume EtOH in a 2-bottle choice paradigm (15% EtOH vs. water) for 3 weeks (Baseline drinking, Test 1, and Test 2), which were interspersed with 2 cycles (Cycles I and II) of chronic EtOH vapor or air inhalation (16 hours) and withdrawal (8 hours). BECs were determined during both cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic EtOH exposure led to increased EtOH intake during Test 1 and Test 2 in both adolescent and adult mice compared with air-exposed controls, and no differences between age groups were observed. During Cycle I adult mice showed higher BECs compared with adolescents. During Cycle II, BECs were lower in adult mice as compared to Cycle I, and BECs in adolescent mice did not change between the 2 cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic EtOH exposure followed by withdrawal periods increases EtOH consumption similarly in both adolescent and adult mice, despite differences in BECs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia , Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Carrara-Nascimento
authors.forename: Marcelo F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Howard C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: M Foster
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camarini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol