Prenatal exposure to low alcohol and alcohol motivation in the offspring

Abstract

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), even at low doses, has been linked to long-term alterations in alcohol-related behaviors, particularly increased alcohol consumption and preference in offspring. This chapter examines how low-dose PAE affects the motivational effects of alcohol, potentially influencing the balance between its rewarding and aversive properties. While high-dose PAE has been extensively studied for its teratogenic effects, the implications of lower, more common exposures remain less understood. Preclinical studies using rodent models suggest that even moderate PAE (1–3 g/kg/day) enhances sensitivity to alcohol’s appetitive properties while reducing its aversive effects, promoting future alcohol-seeking behavior. These alterations may be mediated by neurobiological changes, including increased neurogenesis of enkephalin-expressing neurons, disruptions in dopamine and opioid signaling, and modifications in stress-related neural circuits. Behavioral paradigms, such as conditioned place preference and conditioned taste aversion, confirm that PAE enhances the reinforcing effects of ethanol while mitigating its negative consequences. Operant self-administration studies also report greater motivation after PAE. These motivational alterations correlate, albeit with studies not measuring the same variables in the same individual, with increased alcohol consumption in adolescence and adulthood. This chapter further discusses the mechanisms underlying these effects. Understanding the impact of low-dose PAE on alcohol motivation can provide crucial insights into early-life risk factors for problematic drinking and inform preventive interventions.