Sex differences in the neuroimmune response following heavy, binge-like alcohol exposure in adolescent rats.

ABSTRACT: Adolescents who consume alcohol show a high prevalence of binge drinking, which has been linked to brain damage and neuroimmune reactions that increase risk for developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Adolescent female drinking patterns have surpassed males, yet little is known about damaging effects of alcohol in females. Known sex differences in neuroimmune reactivity, specifically microglial reactivity, suggest that the female brain will differ from males. Therefore, we examined indicators of neuroimmune activation and neurodegeneration following 2 days of heavy, bingelike exposure in adolescent male and female rats. Translocator protein 18kD (TSPO) expression assessed by [³H]PK-11195 autoradiography revealed that adolescent female rats showed a brief and immediate response

SUBMITTER: Van Doorn CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12637034 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature