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The Influence of Sex on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neurotrophic Responses on the Persistent Effects of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure into Adulthood.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nwachukwu, KN; Healey, KL; Swartzwelder, HS; Marshall, SA
Published in: Neuroscience
December 1, 2022

In the United States, approximately 90% of alcohol consumed by adolescents is binge drinking. Binge-like ethanol exposure during adolescence promotes dysregulation of neurotrophic responses and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. These effects include changes in proliferation, regulation, differentiation, and maturation of neurons, and there is indication that such effects may be disproportionate between sexes. This study determined whether sex impacts neurotrophic responses and neurogenesis in adulthood after adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure. To determine this, adolescent rats underwent AIE with ethanol (5 g/kg). In adulthood, animals were euthanized, and immunohistochemical techniques and ELISAs were utilized to determine AIE effects on sex-specific neurogenesis factors and neurotrophic markers, respectively. AIE exposure led to a significant decrease in neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation indicated by reductions in the numbers of DCX+, SOX2+ and Ki-67+ cells in male and female AIE-exposed rats. Additionally, AIE increased markers for the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β, in the hippocampus into adulthood in male AIE-exposed rats only. No significant AIE-induced differences were observed in the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and TGF-β, nor in the neurotrophic factors BDNF and GDNF. Altogether, our findings indicate that although AIE did not have a persistent effect on hippocampal neurotrophic levels, there was still a reduction in neurogenesis. The neurogenic impairment was not sex specific, but the neurogenic deficits in males may be attributed to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. A persistent impairment in neurogenesis may have an impact on both behavioral maladaptations and neurodegeneration in adulthood.

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Published In

Neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1873-7544

Publication Date

December 1, 2022

Volume

506

Start / End Page

68 / 79

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Animals
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Nwachukwu, K. N., Healey, K. L., Swartzwelder, H. S., & Marshall, S. A. (2022). The Influence of Sex on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neurotrophic Responses on the Persistent Effects of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure into Adulthood. Neuroscience, 506, 68–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.028
Nwachukwu, Kala N., Kati L. Healey, H Scott Swartzwelder, and S Alex Marshall. “The Influence of Sex on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neurotrophic Responses on the Persistent Effects of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure into Adulthood.Neuroscience 506 (December 1, 2022): 68–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.028.
Nwachukwu, Kala N., et al. “The Influence of Sex on Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neurotrophic Responses on the Persistent Effects of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure into Adulthood.Neuroscience, vol. 506, Dec. 2022, pp. 68–79. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.028.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuroscience

DOI

EISSN

1873-7544

Publication Date

December 1, 2022

Volume

506

Start / End Page

68 / 79

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • Female
  • Ethanol
  • Animals
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology