Age-dependent effects of chronic intermittent ethanol treatment: Gross motor behavior and body weight in aged, adult and adolescent rats. (14th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matthews, Douglas B.; Mittleman, Guy
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 657(2017)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2017-09-14
• Subjects: Alcohol -- Aging -- Ataxia; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.08.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Chronic Intermittent Ethanol exposure produces age dependent body weight effects. Aged rats are more sensitive to alcohol-induced ataxia compared to adult or adolescent rats. Aged rats do not demonstrate tolerance to alcohol-induced ataxia. Abstract: The proportion of people in the population who are elderly is rapidly increasing. In addition, dangerous alcohol consumption in this demographic is rising. Approximately 33% of all people with an alcohol use disorder are diagnosed with late onset alcoholism. However, few suitable animal models for late onset alcoholism exist, making it difficult to investigate the impact of alcoholism later in life. The current study investigated if chronic intermittent ethanol exposure via intraperitoneal injections every other day for 20 days in aged, adult and adolescent male rats differentially alters body weight and impairs gross motor behavior as measured by the aerial righting reflex. The body weight of aged and adult rats were significantly decreased by chronic intermittent ethanol exposure while the body weight of adolescent rats was not impacted. In addition, the aerial righting reflex of aged rats was significantly more impaired by alcohol exposure than the aerial righting reflex of adult or adolescent animals. Chronic intermittent ethanol exposure did not produce tolerance in the aerial righting reflex for any of the three age groups. The differential age sensitivity in the aerial righting reflex was not due to differential blood ethanol concentrations. The current work demonstrates the risk factors of chronic alcohol use in the elderly and highlights the need for additional study in this vulnerable demographic.