Hyperlocomotion and anxiety- like behavior induced by binge ethanol exposure in rat neonates. Possible ameliorative effects of Omega 3.

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy may cause neurocognitive and behavioral disorders that can persist until adulthood. Epidemiological data has revealed an alarming increase in the frequency of alcohol intake in pregnant women. Nutritional variables may also have an impact on the behavioral alterations occasioned by alcohol during development. Moreover, omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid necessary for normal brain development, is deficient in ethanol-treated animals. Although studies have shown that omega-3 supplementation after prenatal ethanol (EtOH) treatment improves some disorders, there are no reports about acute treatment with omega-3 in binge alcohol neurotoxic models during postnatal development. The goal of this study was to determine whether an administration of omega-3, after an acute ethanol dose in neonates, would be able to attenuate alcohol effects in offspring. Male/ female rats were administered ethanol (2.5 g/kg s.c. at 0 and 2 h) or saline on postnatal day (PND) 7, with a single dose of omega-3 (720 mg/kg) 15 min after the last alcohol injection. It was have found that EtOH-treated animals showed hyperlocomotion on PND 14 (pre-juvenile), and anxiety-like behavior was observed at all the three ages studied. Administration of omega-3 after EtOH treatment reduced hyperlocomotion and the anxiety-like behaviors on PND 14, but did not diminish the anxiety on either PND 20 or 30 (juvenile). In conclusion, acute ethanol exposure produced neurobehavioral alterations that persisted in the offspring, with omega-3 able to ameliorate these effects on PND 14. These data are relevant considering that omega-3 administration may have therapeutic effects through mitigating some of ethanol´s damaging consequences.