The brain is particularly vulnerable to ethanol effects during its growth spurt. Outcomes of early ethanol exposure such as hyperactivity have been extensively investigated; however, persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder frequently have social impairments and are heavy drinkers. Despite that, scant information is available regarding the neurobiological basis of these latter behavioral issues. Here, Swiss mice exposed to ethanol (Etoh, 5 g/kg i.p., alternate days) or saline during the brain growth spurt [postnatal day (PN) 2 to 8] were used to assess social behavior after an ethanol challenging during adolescence. At PN39, animals were administered with a single ethanol dose (1 g/Kg) or water by gavage and were then evaluated in the three‐chamber sociability test. We also evaluated corticosterone serum levels and the frontal cerebral cortex serotoninergic system. Etoh males showed reductions in sociability. Ethanol challenging reverted these alterations in social behavior, reduced corticosterone levels, and increased the 5‐HT2 receptor binding of male Etoh mice. No alterations were observed in 5‐HT and 5‐HIAA contents. These data support the idea that ethanol exposure during the brain growth spurt impacts social abilities during adolescence, alters ethanol reexposure effects, and suggests that stress response and serotoninergic system play roles in this phenomenon.

中文翻译：

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大脑生长突增期间的乙醇暴露影响社会行为并增加雄性小鼠青春期对急性乙醇效应的易感性

大脑在其突增期间特别容易受到乙醇的影响。已经广泛研究了早期乙醇暴露的结果，例如多动症；然而，患有胎儿酒精谱系障碍的人经常有社交障碍并且酗酒。尽管如此，关于后者行为问题的神经生物学基础的信息很少。在这里，在大脑生长突增 [出生后第 2 至 8 天] 期间暴露于乙醇（Etoh，5 g/kg ip，隔天）或盐水的瑞士小鼠被用于评估青春期乙醇挑战后的社会行为。在 PN39 时，动物通过灌胃给予单一剂量的乙醇 (1 g/Kg) 或水，然后在三室社交性测试中进行评估。我们还评估了皮质酮血清水平和额叶大脑皮层血清素能系统。Etoh 雄性表现出社交能力下降。乙醇挑战逆转了这些社会行为的改变，降低了皮质酮水平，并增加了雄性 Etoh 小鼠的 5-HT2 受体结合。未观察到 5-HT 和 5-HIAA 含量的变化。这些数据支持大脑生长突增期间接触乙醇会影响青春期社会能力、改变乙醇再接触效应的观点，并表明压力反应和血清素能系统在这种现象中起作用。未观察到 5-HT 和 5-HIAA 含量的变化。这些数据支持大脑生长突增期间接触乙醇会影响青春期社会能力、改变乙醇再接触效应的观点，并表明压力反应和血清素能系统在这种现象中起作用。未观察到 5-HT 和 5-HIAA 含量的变化。这些数据支持大脑生长突增期间接触乙醇会影响青春期社会能力、改变乙醇再接触效应的观点，并表明压力反应和血清素能系统在这种现象中起作用。