Avaliação dos efeitos da intoxicação alcoólica nas respostas neurocomportamentais do tipo ansiosas em camundongos adolescentes

Abstract

Alcohol-related disorders are a serious global public health issue, with early consumption during adolescence being a major risk factor for the development of dependence. This developmental period is marked by intense brain changes, including white matter reduction, increased synaptic pruning, and loss of connectivity between regions, particularly affecting structures such as the prefrontal cortex, which is critical for impulse control and decision-making. Alcohol abuse during adolescence can impair memory, emotional regulation, and increase vulnerability to psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders. In the central nervous system, the endocannabinoid system (eCB) plays a modulatory role in emotional processing, primarily through the endogenous ligands anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), which act on cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Despite the eCB’s relevance in emotional modulation, few studies have investigated its role in the effects of ethanol during adolescence, especially in anxiety-related brain regions such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adolescent alcohol intoxication on anxiety-like behaviors and CB1 receptor expression in these regions in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Animals were subjected to an ethanol intoxication protocol and evaluated using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Light-Dark Box tests. Brains were then collected for CB1 gene expression analysis. In the EPM, intoxicated animals showed a significant reduction in time spent in open arms, indicating increased anxiety-like behavior. Molecular analysis revealed a significant decrease in CB1 expression in the amygdala, with no changes in the prefrontal cortex or hippocampus. These findings suggest that the amygdala and eCB system are involved in ethanol-induced anxiety-like responses.