Effects of Voluntary Access to Sweetened Ethanol During Adolescence on Intake in Adulthood.

Background The prevalence of alcohol use during adolescence is concerning given that early age of alcohol initiation is correlated with the development of alcohol-related problems later in life. The purpose of this series of studies was to assess whether voluntary ethanol ( Et OH) exposure during adolescence would influence Et OH drinking behavior in adulthood using an animal model. Methods Pair-housed Sprague- Dawley adolescent (postnatal day [P] 28 to 42) rats of both sexes were given single bottle access to 1 of 3 solutions in their home cages-10% Et OH in 'supersac' (0.125% saccharin and 3% sucrose) ( Et OH/ SS), supersac without Et OH ( SS), or water-for 30 minutes every other day for a total of 8 drinking days or were left nonmanipulated ( NM). Animals were NM thereafter until adulthood ( P70) at which time they were given 1-bottle, 30 minute limited access tests with 20% Et OH every other day (Exp 1), 10% Et OH in SS (Exp 2), or SS without Et OH (Exp 3). Results Adolescent Et OH/ SS exposure increased adulthood consumption of Et OH/ SS (Exp 2), but not 20% unsweetened Et OH (Exp 1) or SS (Exp 3), with this increase most pronounced at the beginning of the 8 intake day procedure. Access to SS (without Et OH) during adolescence produced an analogous effect, with increased adult SS consumption during the first 2 intake days, but no increases in either of the Et OH test solutions. Conclusions Solution-specific increases in adulthood intake after adolescent exposure are most likely associated with solution acceptance due to familiarity. This is an important consideration for future intake studies assessing the influence of Et OH exposure during adolescence on intake of Et OH in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]