V-035
Binge-like ethanol induced anxiety- like behavior, cell degeneration and possible amelioration of Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids in adolescent rats.
Valentín Cabrera1, Luciana Savino1, Luana Marenchino Gallo1, Tomás Heredia Di Natale1, Paula Abate1,2, Verónica Balaszczuk1,2, Ana Fabiola Macchione1,2
  1. Laboratorio de Psicología Experimental. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPsi-CONICET-UNC. Córdoba, Argentina.
  2. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Presenting Author:
Valentín Cabrera
valentin.cabrera@unc.edu.ar
Alcohol consumption contributes to ∼5% of the global disease burden, with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. High alcohol exposure induces anxiety-like behavior and neuronal death, potentially through neuroinflammation and oxidative stress–induced apoptosis. Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids may counteract these effects through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, little is known about the long-term effects of ethanol (EtOH) exposure and the potential protective ω-3 effects in adolescents. Here, we evaluated the impact of EtOH exposure and the neuroprotective role of ω-3 on anxiety-like behavior and pyknotic cell number, in adolescent rats. Animals received 2 or 0 g/kg of EtOH (ig) on postnatal days (PDs) 28, 30, and 32 and, fifteen min later, they were administered with ω-3 (720 or 0 mg/kg, ig). On PD 34, animals were tested in the elevated plus maze for 5 min and were sacrificed for brain tissue collection. Pyknotic cells were stained with toluidine blue and quantified in the central amygdala (CeA). EtOH-treated animals showed an anxiogenic profile, spending less time in open arms; a profile that was improved by ω-3 (EtOH+ω-3 animals increase the time in open arms). EtOH significantly increased the pyknotic cell number in the CeA. These findings highlight ethanol´s long-term neurotoxic effects on cell degeneration and anxiety and provide evidence of possible amelioration of ω-3 in adolescents.