Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by significant changes in brain architecture and behavior. The immaturity of the adolescent brain is associated with heightened vulnerability to exogenous agents, including alcohol. Alcohol is the most consumed drug among teenagers, and binge-drinking during adolescence is a major public health concern. Studies have suggested that adolescent alcohol exposure (AAE) may interfere with the maturation of frontal brain regions and lead to long-lasting behavioral consequences. In this study, we used a mouse model of AAE in which adolescent mice reach high blood alcohol concentration after voluntary binge-drinking. In order to assess short- and long-term consequences of AAE, a battery of behavioral tests was performed during late adolescence and during adulthood. We showed that AAE had no short-term effect on young mice behavior but rather increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, as well as alcohol consumption during adulthood. Moreover, alcohol binge-drinking during adolescence dramatically decreased recognition memory performances and behavioral flexibility in both adult males and females. Furthermore, we showed that voluntary consumption of alcohol during adolescence did not trigger any major activation of the innate immune system in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Together, our data suggest that voluntary alcohol binge-drinking in adolescent mice induces a delayed appearance of behavioral impairments in adulthood.

中文翻译：

---

青春期酗酒导致小鼠行为缺陷的延迟出现

青春期是一个发育阶段，其特征是大脑结构和行为发生重大变化。青春期大脑的不成熟与对包括酒精在内的外源性药物的易感性增强有关。酒精是青少年中最消耗的药物，青春期的暴饮暴食是主要的公共卫生问题。研究表明，青少年饮酒（AAE）可能会干扰额叶大脑区域的成熟并导致长期的行为后果。在这项研究中，我们使用了AAE的小鼠模型，其中青春期小鼠在自愿暴饮暴食后达到了较高的血液酒精浓度。为了评估AAE的短期和长期后果，在青春期晚期和成年期进行了一系列行为测试。我们表明，AAE对年轻小鼠的行为没有短期影响，但会增加焦虑和抑郁样行为，以及成年期的饮酒量。此外，青春期酗酒大幅度降低了成年男性和女性的识别记忆能力和行为灵活性。此外，我们显示青春期自愿饮酒不会触发前额叶皮层（PFC）中先天免疫系统的任何重大活化。总之，我们的数据表明，在青春期小鼠中随意饮酒会导致成年行为障碍的延迟出现。青春期酗酒大幅度降低了成年男性和女性的识别记忆能力和行为灵活性。此外，我们显示青春期自愿饮酒不会触发前额叶皮层（PFC）中先天免疫系统的任何重大活化。总之，我们的数据表明，在青春期小鼠中随意饮酒会导致成年行为障碍的延迟出现。青春期酗酒大幅度降低了成年男性和女性的识别记忆能力和行为灵活性。此外，我们显示青春期自愿饮酒不会触发前额叶皮层（PFC）中先天免疫系统的任何重大活化。总之，我们的数据表明，在青春期小鼠中随意饮酒会导致成年行为障碍的延迟出现。