[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

during adulthood. This work was supported in part by AA015434 and the Center for
Development and Behavioral Neuroscience at Binghamton University.
Disclosures: E.M. Moore , None; J.N. Mariani, None; L.C. Blackman, None; D.N.
Linsenbardt, None; S.L. Boehm, None.
Poster
257. Alcohol Intake and Preference
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 257.7/Z24
Topic: C.16.a. Alcohol
Support: USF Dept of Psychology
Title: Adult female rats consume more ethanol than male rats following repeated binge ethanol
exposure during adolescence
Authors: K. K. ALIPOUR, A. M. MALDONADO, *C. L. KIRSTEIN;
Psychol Dept PCD 4118G, Univ. South Florida Tampa, Tampa, FL
Abstract: Recently, studies have found a significant increase in the rate of binge drinking among
females, as there has been a dramatic change in the trend of alcohol abuse in men and women.
These findings are important, as binge alcohol consumption is a rising concern in the United
States, especially during adolescence. It is during this developmental period that binge alcohol
consumption is usually initiated. Binge drinking models have been established in animals. In
these models, animals are repeatedly administered high doses of ethanol (EtOH) over a period of
three or four days. While such research has examined the effects of a single four-day and
repeated three-day binge, little work has investigated the behavioral consequences of repeated
four-day binges. The present experiment examined the effects of repeated binge EtOH
administration during adolescence on voluntary EtOH intake in adulthood in male and female
rats. Results indicate that repeated binge EtOH administration during adolescence, regardless of
dose, enhanced voluntary EtOH intake in adulthood. Rats showed increased EtOH intake across
days in adulthood. Females pretreated with EtOH consumed significantly more EtOH in
adulthood relative to males. Together, these data indicate repeated binge EtOH exposure during
adolescence has long-term consequences on voluntary EtOH consumption in adulthood, and
females may be especially at risk to the long-term behavioral effects of early binge EtOH
exposure. Given alcohol use is initiated during adolescence, and the trend of alcoholism among
women has recently grown, the present experiment demonstrates the importance of elucidating
the impact of early binge-pattern EtOH exposure on the subsequent predisposition to drink later