Developmental ethanol exposure delays the extinction of a conditioned fear memory and increases ethanol consumption, differentially in males and females

PLAZA W.; CARRIZO-LARGO, J; GASCHINO, F.; FERNÁNDEZ MS; PAUTASSI R.M.; HAEGER, P.

Puerto Varas

Congreso; VIII International meeting of the Latinamerican Society of Research on Alcoholism; 2017

Latinamerican Society of Research on Alcoholism

Repeated exposure to ethanol increases retrieval of fear-conditioned memory, which promotes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with PTSD are more likely to develop alcohol-related disorders. Also, it is known that in individuals suffering from disorders related to stress and trauma can use alcohol to relieve symptoms of PTSD.We determined if animals given developmental ethanol exposure (DEE) (a) exhibited heightened ethanol consumption, and (b) are more susceptible to retain a fear memory induced by a traumatic event.Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to water or ethanol (10% v/v), both sweetened with 64 mg/l of sucralose. Auditory fear conditioning (FC) was performed in the male and female offspring, at postnatal day 45. Memory was measured by freezing behavior during acquisition, retention and extinction (days 1, 2 and 9, respectively). Ethanol intake (preference vs. water and grams of ethanol consumed) was measured every two days for 3 weeks after the extinction test.Our results indicated that 1) The acquisition and retention of the aversive memory was similar in DEE and control animals, and in males and females. 2) DEE males and females, but not their control counterparts, exhibited persistence of the aversive memory during the extinction test. 3) Female rats, controls as well as DEE, exhibited significantly greater ethanol preference than male rats. 4) DEE males and females exhibited greater ethanol intake than their controls right after extinction test.These results suggest that DEE animals are more vulnerable to exhibit long term retention of aversive memories, and to ingest significantly more ethanol. These results have implications for the understanding of the pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorders and comorbid alcohol intake. Funded Fondecyt 1140855 and IBRO-PROLAB.