title: Neonatal experiences with ethanol intoxication modify respiratory and thermoregulatory plasticity and affect subsequent ethanol intake in rats.
abstract: Different studies have focused on the deleterious consequences of binge-like or chronic exposure to ethanol during the brain growth spurt period (third human gestational trimester) that in the rat corresponds to postnatal days (PDs) 3-10. The present study analyzed behavioral and physiological disruptions caused by relatively brief binge-like exposures (PDs 3, 5, and 7) with an ethanol dose lower (3.0 g/kg) than those frequently employed to examine teratological effects during this stage in development. At PD 9, pups were exposed to ethanol doses ranging between .0-3.0 g/kg and tested in terms of breathing patterns and thermoregulation. At PDs 11 and 12, ethanol intake was examined. The main findings were as follows: i) pre-exposure to the drug resulted in brief depressions in breathing frequencies and an exacerbated predisposition toward apneic episodes; ii) these effects were not dependent upon thermoregulatory alterations; iii) early ethanol treatment increased initial consumption of the drug which also caused a marked hypothermia that appeared to regulate a subsequent decrement in ethanol consumption; and iv) ethanol exposure retarded overall body growth and even one exposure to the drug (PD 9) was sufficient to reduce brain weights although there were no indications of microcephaly. In conjunction with studies performed during the late gestational period in the rat, the results indicate that relatively brief binge-like episodes during a critical window of brain vulnerability disrupts the respiratory network and exacerbates initial acceptance of the drug. In addition, ethanol treatments were not found to induce tolerance relative to respiratory and thermal disruptions.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Belén
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.|Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana Fabiola
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Macchione
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anunziata
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Olga Beatriz
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Haymal
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.|Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: breathing disruptions; early ethanol intoxication; ethanol; intake rat; neonate; thermoregulation