TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Binge-like administration of alcohol mixed to energy drinks to male adolescent rats severely impacts on mesocortical dopaminergic function in adulthood: a behavioral, neurochemical and electrophysiological study
JO  - Neuropharmacology
A1  - Dazzi, Laura
A1  - Sanna, Fabrizio
A1  - Talani, Giuseppe
A1  - Bassareo, Valentina
A1  - Biggio, Francesca
A1  - Follesa, Paolo
A1  - Pisu, Maria Giuseppina
A1  - Porcu, Patrizia
A1  - Puliga, Roberta
A1  - Quartu, Marina
A1  - Serra, Mariangela
A1  - Serra, Maria Pina
A1  - Sann, Enrico
A1  - Acquas, Elio
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - A growing body of evidence indicates that the practice of consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (ED) (AMED) in a binge drinking pattern is significantly diffusing among the adolescent population. This behavior, aimed at increasing the intake of alcohol, raises serious concerns about its long-term effects. Epidemiological studies suggest that AMED consumption might increase vulnerability to alcohol abuse and have a gating effect on the use of illicit drugs. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is involved in the modulation of the reinforcing effects of alcohol and of impulsive behavior and plays a key role in the development of addiction. In our study, we used a binge-like protocol of administration of alcohol, ED, or AMED in male adolescent rats, to mimic the binge-like intake behavior observed in humans, in order to evaluate whether these treatments could differentially affect the function of mesocortical dopaminergic neurons in adulthood. We did so by measuring: i) physiological sensorimotor gating; ii) voluntary alcohol consumption and dopamine transmission before, during, and after presentation of alcohol; iii) electrophysiological activity of VTA dopaminergic neurons and their sensitivity to a challenge with alcohol. Our results indicate that exposure to alcohol, ED, or AMED during adolescence induces differential adaptive changes in the function of mesocortical dopaminergic neurons and, in particular, that AMED exposure decreases their sensitivity to external stimuli, possibly laying the foundation for the altered behaviors observed in adulthood.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0028-3908
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109786
ID  - ref1
ER  -