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Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Little, PJ; Kuhn, CM; Wilson, WA; Swartzwelder, HS
Published in: Alcohol Clin Exp Res
November 1996

Alcohol use in children and adolescents is widespread. However, very little is known about the effects of alcohol exposure during this period of postnatal development. The goal of the present study was to compare the relative sensitivity to the sedative effects of alcohol in periadolescent and adult rats. After treatment with either 4 or 5 g/kg ethanol, both 20- and 30-day-old rats regained their righting reflex significantly earlier than 60-day old rats. In 30-day-old rats, serum ethanol concentrations (SECs) were significantly greater at the time of the recovery of the righting reflex than 60-day-old rats. Developmental differences in the effects of ethanol on locomotor activity were also observed. In 60-day-old rats, 2.5 g/kg ethanol generally decreased locomotor activity. Ethanol did not significantly alter locomotor activity in 20- and 30-day-old rats. Finally there were significant developmental differences in the pharmacokinetics of ethanol with a significant delay in the time to peak SECs in 60-day-old rats relative to 20- and 30-day-old rats. These findings indicate that peri-adolescent rats are less sensitive to the sedative effects of ethanol as they recovered their righting reflex earlier and at significantly higher SECs than adult rats.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Alcohol Clin Exp Res

DOI

ISSN

0145-6008

Publication Date

November 1996

Volume

20

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1346 / 1351

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Reflex
  • Reaction Time
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Postural Balance
  • Motor Activity
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Male
  • Ethanol
 

Citation

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Little, P. J., Kuhn, C. M., Wilson, W. A., & Swartzwelder, H. S. (1996). Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 20(8), 1346–1351. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.1996.tb01133.x
Little, P. J., C. M. Kuhn, W. A. Wilson, and H. S. Swartzwelder. “Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats.Alcohol Clin Exp Res 20, no. 8 (November 1996): 1346–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.1996.tb01133.x.
Little PJ, Kuhn CM, Wilson WA, Swartzwelder HS. Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1996 Nov;20(8):1346–51.
Little, P. J., et al. “Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats.Alcohol Clin Exp Res, vol. 20, no. 8, Nov. 1996, pp. 1346–51. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.1996.tb01133.x.
Little PJ, Kuhn CM, Wilson WA, Swartzwelder HS. Differential effects of ethanol in adolescent and adult rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1996 Nov;20(8):1346–1351.
Journal cover image

Published In

Alcohol Clin Exp Res

DOI

ISSN

0145-6008

Publication Date

November 1996

Volume

20

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1346 / 1351

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Reflex
  • Reaction Time
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Postural Balance
  • Motor Activity
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Male
  • Ethanol