Effects of elevated episodic alcohol consumption during adolescence on recognition memory

VIRGOLINI, RODRIGO; SALGUERO, AGUSTÍN; PAUTASSI, RICARDO MARCOS

Congreso; XXXVI Annual Meeting (SAN2021); 2021

Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias

Adolescent alcohol consumption is an important health issue in Argentina. Many studies indicate that age of first intoxication is more relevant than age of first contact in explaining alcohol related disorders. This suggests that preclinical studies should focus on models that generate high amounts of consumption in a short time. The present study assessed in male and female Wistar rats the effects of chronic exposure to alcohol during adolescence on recognition memory, with a model simulating elevated episodic alcohol consumption (EEAC). The hypothesis was that exposure to EEAC would result in significant deficits in recognition memory. 48 rats were submitted to a protocol of daily intermittent 2 hour sessions of alcohol auto-administration (EtOH 10%) during adolescence from postnatal days 30-50. Control group received water. Between postnatal days 60-67 rats were evaluated with novel object recognition test. Rats exposed to alcohol during adolescence exhibited significantly less distance traveled in experimental arena [F(1,44)=4.82; p=0.03]. However, no alcohol induced deficits were observed on novel object discrimination. Furthermore, rats that had undergone EEAC showed slight but significant increase in novelty discrimination compared to controls [F(1,44)=4.21; p=0.04]. The hypothesis that EEAC would impair recognition memory was not confirmed. Nonetheless, less distance traveled by animals exposed to EEAC suggests the procedure may have altered motivational patterns.