Abstract
This study analyzed ethanol intake in male and female Wistar rats exposed to maternal separation (MS) during infancy (postnatal days 1–21, PD1–21) and environmental enrichment (EE) during adolescence (PD 21–42). Previous work revealed that MS enhances ethanol consumption during adulthood. It is still unknown if a similar effect is found during adolescence. Several studies, in turn, have revealed that EE reverses stress experiences, and reduces ethanol consumption and reinforcement; although others reported greater ethanol intake after EE. The interactive effects between these treatments upon ethanol’s effects and intake have yet to be explored. We assessed chronic ethanol intake and preference (12 two-bottle daily sessions, spread across 30 days, 1st session on PD46) in rats exposed to MS and EE. The main finding was that male – but not female – rats that had been exposed to EE consumed more ethanol than controls given standard housing, an effect that was not affected by MS. Subsequent experiments assessed several factors associated with heightened ethanol consumption in males exposed to MS and EE; namely taste aversive conditioning and hypnotic-sedative consequences of ethanol. We also measured anxiety response in the light-dark box and in the elevated plus maze tests; and exploratory patterns of novel stimuli and behaviors indicative of risk assessment and risk-taking, via a modified version of the concentric square field (CSF) test. Aversive conditioning, hypnosis and sleep time were similar in males exposed or not to EE. EE males, however, exhibited heightened exploration of novel stimuli and greater risk taking behaviors in the CSF test. It is likely that the promoting effect of EE upon ethanol intake was due to these effects upon exploratory and risk-taking behaviors.
Highlights
Pilatti et al (2013a) indicated lifetime prevalence of alcohol sipping or tasting in 50% to 70% of Argentinean children aged 8–12 years-old
Latency to exit the bright compartment was not affected by Sex or Rearing conditions, whereas the ANOVAs for number of transfers between compartments and for time spent in the bright compartment yielded significant main effects of Sex [F(1,53) = 5.07, p ≤ 0.05, η2p = 0.08; F(1,53) = 4.13, p ≤ 0.05, η2p = 0.07; respectively] and a significant interaction between Rearing conditions at infancy and at adolescence [F(1,53) = 4.14, p ≤ 0.05, η2p = 0.07; F(1,53) = 4.91, p ≤ 0.05, η2p = 0.08; respectively]
The main finding of the present study was that exposure to EE throughout adolescence induced a significant increase in ethanol intake and preference during periadolescence and young adulthood
Summary
Pilatti et al (2013a) indicated lifetime prevalence of alcohol sipping or tasting in 50% (females) to 70% (males) of Argentinean children aged 8–12 years-old. The present study assessed, in Wistar male and female rats, the effects of maternal separation during infancy, followed by exposure to EE throughout adolescence, on ethanol drinking during periadolescence [i.e., between PD42 and PD60, Spear, 2000] and early adulthood [i.e., between PD61 and PD72].
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