Glutamatergic dysfunction of astrocytes in paraventricular nucleus of thalamus contributes to adult anxiety susceptibility in adolescent ethanol exposed mice.

ABSTRACT: Repeated ethanol exposure during adolescence increases adult anxiety risk, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) has been considered a hub for controlling anxiety and is affected by experiences from early life. Thus, this study investigated how adolescent intermittent repeated ethanol exposure (AIE) affects the PVT activities and anxiety-related behaviors in adulthood. We found that AIE triggers anxiety-like behaviors and parallelly exhibited elevated firing rates and increased calcium signaling in the PVT neurons compared to control counterpart mice. Chemogenetic inhibition of PVT neurons reduced anxiety-like behaviors in AIE-treated animals, confirming PVT's role in adolescent alcohol-induced adult anxiety. The increased PVT neuro

SUBMITTER: Bennett A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12646275 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature