Alcohol exposure during early adolescence is believed to durably alter the behavioral properties of
ethanol, increasing the likelihood of later
alcohol-related disorders. The aim of the present experiments was to characterize changes in the behavioral effects of
ethanol in adult female Swiss mice after a chronic
ethanol exposure during adolescence, extending from postnatal day 28 to postnatal day 42. After a chronic
ethanol exposure during adolescence (daily
injections of 0, 2.5 or 4 g/kg
ethanol for 14 consecutive days), adult mice were tested at postnatal day 63. The locomotor stimulant effects of
ethanol, together with
ethanol sensitization were tested in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the
sedative effects of
ethanol were assessed with the loss of righting reflex procedure. Finally, in experiment 3, the
anxiolytic effects of
ethanol were tested with the light/dark box test. Adult mice chronically exposed to
ethanol during adolescence showed a lower basal locomotor activity, but higher locomotor stimulant effects of
ethanol than non-exposed mice. Additionally, these adult mice developed higher rates of
ethanol sensitization after chronic re-exposure to
ethanol in adulthood. Adult mice exposed to
ethanol during adolescence also had a stronger tolerance to the
sedative effects of high
ethanol doses, although they showed no evidence of changes in the
anxiolytic effects of
ethanol. These results are in agreement with the thesis that chronic alcohol consumption during adolescence, especially in high amounts, increases the risk of later
alcohol-related disorders.