EFFECTS OF ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION BY ADOLESCENT ALCOHOL-PREFERRING P-RATON SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIORAL PERFORMANCE IN THE CROSS-MAZE AND SLIP FUNNEL TESTS

Neonatal alcohol exposure during the first 1-2 weeks of age is known t o produce subsequent behavioral hyperactivity in rats. However, little is known about the effects of alcohol exposure during adolescence on subsequent adult behavior. In the present study, male and female P rat s had free access to 10% alcohol during adolescence (3-8 weeks of age) . After 8 days of abstinence, their behavior was evaluated in the cros s-maze and in the inescapable slip funnel tests during the 10th week o f age. Two-way ANOVAs revealed significant effects of alcohol drinking on several variables. Compared to alcohol-naive rats, the alcohol-exp osed group started exploration earlier (3.5 +/- 0.3 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.7 s, p = 0.03) and made fewer defecations. In the slip funnel test, the al cohol group spent more time immobile (130 +/- 7 vs. 107 +/- 5 s, p = 0 .01) and less time attempting to escape out of the funnel (11 +/- 2 vs . 28 +/- 5 s, p = 0.002) than the control group. Overall, the results suggest that the effects of alcohol drinking by P rats during adolesce nce on subsequent behavior are to reduce novelty-induced anxiety (cros s-maze test) and lower response to stress induced by an inescapable si tuation (slip-funnel test).