It is of major public-health importance to identify the long-term effects of adolescent alcohol exposure. There is considerable evidence that alcohol intake during adolescence produces neurobiologic alterations that persist into adult hood. A major factor limiting acute adult alcohol use is the development of motor impairment. It is of considerable importance that adolescent rats exposed to intermittent alcohol did during adolescence did not develop the normal age-related increase sensitivity of alcohol induced motor impairment. Thus the reduced alcohol induced motor impairment seen in adolescence persists in to adulthood. Similarly, alcohol exposure during adolescence also produces increased alcohol induced impairments and spatial memory that persists into adult hood. Thus the reduced motor impairment and increased cognitive impairment seen following acute alcohol in adolescent rats is also seen in adult hood in those rats exposed to alcohol during adolescence. This indicates that the exposure to alcohol during adolescence prevents the normal development of increased motor sensitivity and decreased cognitive sensitivity to acute alcohol that is seen in adults. Adolescent rats exposed to alcohol have increased risk taking in adult hood.

Intermittent Alcohol Injections During Adolescence Prevent The Normal Age Related Development of Increased Sensitivity to Alcohol Induced Motor Impairment

Adolescent rats (Post Natal day (PN) 30) have less motor impairment following an alcohol injection (3g/kg) than adults (PN 70). Following 21 days of intermittent saline, adolescent rats (when at PN 51) respond to alcohol like adults (adults did not change over the 21 days). Rats exposed to intermittent alcohol did not show this increased sensitivity to an acute alcohol injection. 2 groups of adolescent and 2 groups of adult rats all received alcohol 3g/kg IP on the 3 test days. Following the 1st test day ½ of the adolescents and adults received intermittent alcohol 5g/kg IP every 48 hours for 20 days the others received saline. # = adolescents less impairment than adults, p <.001. Adolescent alcohol less impairment than adolescent saline **p <.005, *p <.08. (Constructed from data in White, A.M. et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 26: 960, 2002) ©2008 NBE
Adolescent alcohol exposure increases the amnestic response to alcohol in adulthood.

20 Days of Intermittent Alcohol Injections in Adolescent Rats Produces Spatial Memory Impairment Following an Alcohol Challenge 56 Days Later when They Are Adult. Similar Treatment of Adult Rats Did Not Produce Memory Impairment Following Alcohol Challenge 56 Days Later.

The 4 experimental groups (adolescent-saline, adolescent-alcohol, adult-saline, and adult-alcohol) did not differ on learning the spatial memory task (8 arm radial maze) or on performance in the elevated plus maze. (Constructed from data in White, A.M. et al, Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 24: 1251, 2000) ©2008 NBEP
Alcohol in adolescence increases risk taking in adulthood.

Alcohol Exposure in Adolescence Increases Risk Taking in Adulthood

Rats had free 24 hr. access to an alcohol gel from postnatal days 39-50 and consumed an average of 11.4 g/kg/day of alcohol. One group was tested 21 days after alcohol was stopped and one group 90 days after alcohol was stopped on a probability discounting operant task where the probability of reinforcement for the uncertain option was 25%, 50% or 75%. Data is average of 25%, 50% and 75% probability. Control rats performed at risk neutral value matching while rats exposed to alcohol in adolescence demonstrated greater risk preference. (Constructed from data Nastallah, N.A. et al. PNAS, 106: 17600, 2009) ©2010 NBEP