EFFECTS OF ETHANOL CONSUMPTION AND NOISE EXPOSURE DURING ADOLESCENCE ON HIPPOCAMPAL-RELATED BEHAVIORS

ARAUJO AÑON, LC; CORSI, GN; MARCOS, S; MICHALINA, FJ; BUJAN, GE; D'ALESSIO, L; GUELMAN, LR; MOLINA, SJ

Washington DC

Congreso; Neuroscience 2023; 2023

Society for Neuroscience

Alcoholic beverages are frequently used by adolescents in entertainment environments such as discos and bars, places where they are also often exposed to high noise intensity. Animal studies showed that both ethanol (EtOH) and noise can cause damage to the hippocampus (HC), a brain structure related to memory and anxious behavior. Furthermore, there is little information regarding the effects of noise in female rats. Thus, the aim of this work was to assess the effects of EtOH and noise exposure on HC-related behaviors in adolescent female rats.Female Wistar rats (28-days-old) were subjected to the two-bottle choice intermittent EtOH intake paradigm for 4 weeks. In addition, in drinking sessions 6th and 9th the rats were exposed to noise (95-97 dB, 2h). Finally, Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze and Object Location tasks were performed.Results showed that noise exposure induced an increase in anxiety-like behaviors, while EtOH intake decreased head dipping (a risk assessment behavior). Moreover, both stimuli were capable to decrease exploratory behavior. Finally, non-significant differences were found in spatial and habituation memories.