University of Kentucky
Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol Increases Later Alcohol Consumption during Adolescence: Data from a Rat Model
Institution
University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Susan Barron
Abstract
A study by Brown et. al. shows that over 80% of high school students begin drinking alcohol by the time they graduate. This adolescent period is when most individuals initiate alcohol and other drug use. While many factors may contribute to dangerous drinking in adolescence, the potential role of prenatal alcohol exposure is often not considered. Recent data by Baer et al. suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure may be a risk factor for the development of alcohol and other drug problems in human populations. There are many factors difficult to control for when studying this question in clinical studies. Therefore, we used a rodent model to examine whether alcohol exposure during early development increases the likelihood of drinking during adolescence. Our model uses a neonatal exposure period that overlaps the human 3rd trimester “brain growth spurt”. Offspring were tested during adolescence. In order to initiate drinking, the offspring were given a 10% sweetened, sucrose solution with alcohol gradually added across days in increasing concentrations. The sucrose concentration was reduced and the amount of 12% alcohol consumed was recorded daily. Neonatal alcohol exposure was associated with increased alcohol consumption during adolescence relative to controls. These data provide further evidence that prenatal alcohol exposure may indeed be a risk factor for subsequent alcohol abuse in adolescence.
Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol Increases Later Alcohol Consumption during Adolescence: Data from a Rat Model
A study by Brown et. al. shows that over 80% of high school students begin drinking alcohol by the time they graduate. This adolescent period is when most individuals initiate alcohol and other drug use. While many factors may contribute to dangerous drinking in adolescence, the potential role of prenatal alcohol exposure is often not considered. Recent data by Baer et al. suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure may be a risk factor for the development of alcohol and other drug problems in human populations. There are many factors difficult to control for when studying this question in clinical studies. Therefore, we used a rodent model to examine whether alcohol exposure during early development increases the likelihood of drinking during adolescence. Our model uses a neonatal exposure period that overlaps the human 3rd trimester “brain growth spurt”. Offspring were tested during adolescence. In order to initiate drinking, the offspring were given a 10% sweetened, sucrose solution with alcohol gradually added across days in increasing concentrations. The sucrose concentration was reduced and the amount of 12% alcohol consumed was recorded daily. Neonatal alcohol exposure was associated with increased alcohol consumption during adolescence relative to controls. These data provide further evidence that prenatal alcohol exposure may indeed be a risk factor for subsequent alcohol abuse in adolescence.