Adolescent alcohol exposure, epigenetic reprogramming and adult psychopathology

Adolescent binge drinking appears to be an important risk factor for psychiatric disorders including alcoholism later in life. We investigated the role of histone methylation mechanisms in adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure-induced anxiety-like behaviors in adulthood. Male rats were exposed to intermittent ethanol or n-saline (AIS) during post-natal days (PND) 28-41 and allowed to grow to adulthood (PND 92-102). AIE rats displayed anxiety-like behavior in adulthood. AIE increased H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and decreased KDM6B occupancy at the activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) gene in the amygdala.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research