Omega-3 (Ω-3) Fatty Acid Effects on Anxiety-Like Behavior and Oxidative Stress in a Binge-Like Ethanol Exposure Model in Adolescent Rats

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a worldwide concern that causes 5% of the global disease burden being adolescents among the most vulnerable to its negative effects. Previous evidence suggests that alcohol exposure increases anxiety-like behavior (AnxB) and oxidative stress (OS) while ω-3 can revert these effects. Yet, no literature was found about these outcomes in adolescence. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term effects of binge-like EtOH exposure and DHA treatment on behavior and OS in adolescent Wistar rats. We administered 2 or 0g/kg of EtOH (ig) at postnatal days (PD) 28, 30 and 32. 15 min after, animals received DHA (1 or 0mg/kg, ip). At PD 34 subjects were evaluated in the Light-Dark Box for 5 min to assess AnxB. At PD 35 blood and tissue was collected to measure OS by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and catalase activity in different brain areas. DHA treated animals spent less time in the dark compartment (p=.043) and had decreased catalase activity in Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) (p=.012). EtOH+DHA animals had lower TBARS levels compared to the Water+DHA group (p=.041). Moreover, AnxB correlated with catalase activity in Motor and PFC (.52 and .37) and TBARS levels in EtOH+Albumin rats (.82). These results suggest that DHA can beneficially decrease AnxB and OS in adolescent rats. We found no significant effect of EtOH exposure. This may be because the evaluations were carried out on sober animals that were exposed to the drug several days before.