EFFECTS OF PRENATAL ETHANOL EXPOSURE ON EXPLORATORY AND ANXIETY-LIKE BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL INTERACTION

CABRERA VALENTIN; C. PORCARI; PABLO FERNANDEZ; LAURA VIVAS; MOLINA JUAN CARLOS; MIRANDA MORALES SEBASTIAN; ANDREA GODINO

Workshop; ?The neurohumoral control of body fluid and cardiovascular homeostasis in males and females - vive la difference!?; 2019

The aim of the present work was to analyze the effect of prenatal binge-like ethanol exposure to a moderate dose (2.0 g/kg; group Pre-EtOH) during the gestational days 17 to 20 on exploratory and anxiety-like behavior and social interaction of adolescent offspring (postnatal day 28-33) .Pre-EtOH rats exhibited hypolocomotion in the open field test, showing a significant less distance travelled than control group (Mean=87,65,36). This effect was also evident when only the center area of the open field was taken into account (Mean=6,850,73). No significant differences could be observed for time spent in the center of the chamber. A significantly lower number of rearing behavior was also evidenced (Mean= 22,921,79) in Pre-EtOH animals and in males adolescents, but the interaction of the factors did not attached significance.In the elevated plus maze, the time spent on the closed arms (Mean=255,75 11,1) and time spent in open arms (Mean=8,84,92) were significantly different as a function of prenatal treatment. PreEtOH group spent more time in closed arms than control. Head dipping behavior was also significantly lower in PreEtOH than control group (Mean=2,40,5).The analysis of behavior in the three-chamber social interaction test did not show any significant differences in the interaction with a new congener or objet between the control and Pre-EtOH group.In conclusion, the prenatal binge-like exposure to a moderate ethanol dose reduced exploratory motor activity and increased anxiety-like behavior during adolescence. However, the Pre-EtOH exposure did not seems to affect social interaction with novel congeners at this age.