Journal of neurotrauma | 2019
When Two Wrongs Make a Right: The Effect of Acute and Chronic Binge Drinking on TBI Outcomes in Young Adult Female Rats.
Abstract
Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug by young adults across North America. While alcohol consumption itself incurs a risk of neurological damage, it s also a significant risk factor for traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI among young adults is described as a modern healthcare epidemic. The drastic changes occurring within their neurological networks put them at greater risk for developing long-term post-traumatic deficits. Contradictory findings have been indicated regarding the effects of alcohol consumption on TBI outcomes in adults, with some studies demonstrating detrimental effects while others suggest neuroprotective abilities. However, little is known about the effects of alcohol consumption on TBI outcomes during the sensitive stage of early adulthood. Young adult female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of six experimental conditions: Pre-injury alcohol+TBI; Pre-injury alcohol+Sham; Pre- and Post-injury alcohol+TBI; Pre- and Post-injury alcohol+Sham; No alcohol+TBI; No alcohol+Sham. Alcohol consumption groups received an amount of 10% v/v ethanol solution based on the animals weight. Following the injury, the rats were subjected to a behavioural test battery to assess post-concussive symptomology. Overall, chronic binge drinking significantly improved TBI outcomes related to motor coordination and balance, while binge drinking in general significantly decreased anxiety-like behaviours. Additionally, in many cases chronic binge drinking appears to return the TBI animal s behavioural outcomes to levels comparable to those of the no alcohol sham animals. Thus, the results suggest that alcohol may exhibit neuroprotective abilities in the context of early adulthood TBI.