Disruptions of Serotonergic transmission during sensitive developmental periods results in elevated alcohol intake and altered anxiety-related behavior.

FABIO M.C.; PAUTASSI R.M.; BELLIA, FABIO; D'ADDARIO, CLAUDIO

Cordoba

Congreso; IX International meeting of the Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA); 2019

Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)

Disruptions of Serotonergic transmission during sensitive developmental periods results in elevated alcohol intake and altered anxiety-related behavior.María Carolina Fabioab, Fabio Belliac, Claudio D?Addarioc and Ricardo M. Pautassiaca. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC).b. Facultad de Psicología UNCc. Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, ItalySerotonin (5-HT) is a monoamine neuromodulator that is involved in the regulation of numerous physiological and behavioral functions including mood and anxiety related behaviors. 5-HT is also involved in refining the formation of brain circuits during sensitive developmental periods. It is not surprising, though, that 5-HT plays an important role in the development of psychiatric disorders such as social deficits, anxiety, depression and addiction problems. It is known that anxiety disorders have developmental origins and that 5-HT participates in these processes. Disruption in 5-HT system during sensitive periods of development results in long term consequences. Anxiety disorders are also comorbid with another disorders, such as alcohol abuse and dependence. Therefore, alterations in 5-HT system may be also related with problematic use of alcohol. Therefore, the aim of the present experiment was to analyze the effects of 5-HT depletion on anxiety related behavior and alcohol intake. Male and Female C57BL/6 mice were treated with a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor (PCPA; 4-Chloro-DL-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride; dose:200 mg/kg i.p.) during perinatal stage (P14-17) or adolescence (P42-45) in mice. 15 days post-administration, basal anxiety was measured in the elevated plus maze (EPM) for 5 min in order to analyze if PCPA?s treatment affected basal anxiety behavior. After EPM, ethanol intake was measured (g/kg of ethanol intake and % preference) using a two bottle test (10% v/v vs water; 3 sessions every 48 h) before last Ethanol intake session, animals underwent EPM test to measure basal anxiety again. Our results indicate that depleting 5-HT during adolescence but not at perinatal stage reduces basal anxiety and the alcohol intake in females. Further experiments are needed in order to further analyze the effects of 5-HT depletion on risk taking behavior and neural activity.