Chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats induces emotional and memory deficits associated with morphological and molecular alterations in hippocampus.
There is increasing evidence that heavy ethanol exposure in early life may produce long-lasting neurobehavioral consequences, since brain structural maturation continues until adolescence. It is well established that females are more susceptible to alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and that ethanol consumption is increasing among women, especially during adolescence. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats may induce hippocampal histological damage and neurobehavioral impairments. Female rats were treated with distilled water or ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day, 22.5% w/v) by gavage from the 35(th)-90(th) day of life. Ethanol-exposed animals displayed reduced exploration of the central area and increased number of fecal boluses in the open field test indicative of anxiogenic responses. Moreover, chronic high ethanol exposure during adolescence induced marked impairments on short-term memory of female rats addressed on social recognition and step-down inhibitory avoidance tasks. These neurobehavioral deficits induced by ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood were accompanied by the reduction of hippocampal formation volume as well as the loss of neurons, astrocytes and microglia cells in the hippocampus. These results indicate that chronic high ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats induces long-lasting emotional and memory deficits associated with morphological and molecular alterations in the hippocampus.
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil Laboratory of Experimental Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Ana Ca
AC
Oliveira
Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Maria Cs
MC
Pereira
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Luana N da Silva
LN
Santana
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Rafael M
RM
Fernandes
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Francisco B
FB
Teixeira
Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Gedeão B
GB
Oliveira
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Luanna Mp
LM
Fernandes
Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Enéas A
EA
Fontes-Júnior
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis-Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Rui D
RD
Prediger
Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Maria E
ME
Crespo-López
Laboratory of Experimental Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Walace
W
Gomes-Leal
Laboratory of Functional and Structural Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Rafael R
RR
Lima
Laboratory of Pharmacology of Inflammation and Behavior, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pará, Brazil crismaia@ufpa.br.
Cristiane do Socorro Ferraz
Cdo S
Maia
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000431:Ethanol
Hippocampus; adolescence; anxiety; ethanol; female; memory