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High ethanol dose during early adolescence induces locomotor activation and increases subsequent ethanol intake during late adolescence
Author(s) -
Acevedo María Belén,
Molina Juan Carlos,
Nizhnikov Michael E.,
Spear Norman E.,
Pautassi Ricardo Marcos
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.20444
Subject(s) - ethanol , taste aversion , locomotor activity , medicine , endocrinology , taste , stimulation , self administration , psychology , chemistry , biochemistry
Adolescent initiation of ethanol consumption is associated with subsequent heightened probability of ethanol use disorders. The present study examined the relationship between motivational sensitivity to ethanol initiation in adolescent rats and later ethanol intake. Experiment 1 determined that ethanol induces locomotor activation shortly after administration but not if tested at a later post‐administration interval. In Experiment 2, adolescent rats were assessed for ethanol‐induced locomotor activation on postnatal Day 28. These animals were then evaluated for ethanol‐mediated conditioned taste aversion and underwent a 16‐day‐long ethanol intake protocol. Ethanol‐mediated aversive effects were unrelated to ethanol locomotor stimulation or subsequent ethanol consumption patterns. Ethanol intake during late adolescence was greatest in animals initiated to ethanol earliest at postnatal Day 28. Females that were more sensitive to ethanol's locomotor‐activating effects showed a transient increase in ethanol self‐administration. Blood ethanol concentrations during initiation were not related to ethanol‐induced locomotor activation. Adolescent rats appeared sensitive to the locomotor‐stimulatory effects of ethanol. Even brief ethanol exposure during adolescence may promote later ethanol intake. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 424–440, 2010.