Alcohol exposure in adolescence is an important risk factor for the development of alcoholism in adulthood. Epigenetic processes are implicated in the persistence of adolescent alcohol exposure-related changes, specifically in the amygdala. We investigated the role of histone methylation mechanisms in the persistent effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure in adulthood. Adolescent rats were exposed to 2 g/kg ethanol (2 days on/off) or intermittent n-saline (AIS) during postnatal days (PND) 28-41 and used for behavioral and epigenetic studies. We found that AIE exposure caused a long-lasting decrease in mRNA and protein levels of lysine demethylase 1(Lsd1) and mRNA levels of Lsd1 + 8a (a neuron-specific splice variant) in specific amygdaloid structures compared with AIS-exposed rats when measured at adulthood. Interestingly, AIE increased histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) levels in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) in adulthood without producing any change in H3K4me2 protein levels. Acute ethanol challenge (2 g/kg) in adulthood attenuated anxiety-like behaviors and the decrease in Lsd1 + 8a mRNA levels in the amygdala induced by AIE. AIE caused an increase in H3K9me2 occupancy at the brain-derived neurotrophic factor exon IV promoter in the amygdala that returned to baseline after acute ethanol challenge in adulthood. These results indicate that AIE specifically modulates epizymes involved in H3K9 dimethylation in the amygdala in adulthood, which are possibly responsible for AIE-induced chromatin remodeling and adult psychopathology such as anxiety.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5110402PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12404DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

adolescent alcohol
8
alcohol exposure
8
lysine demethylase
8
histone methylation
8
adulthood
8
amygdala adulthood
8
aie exposure
8
protein levels
8
mrna levels
8
nucleus amygdala
8

Similar Publications

Unlabelled: The large majority (over 70%) of American Indian adolescents who reside in cities rather than tribal lands or rural areas report relatively earlier onset of substance use and more harmful associated health effects, compared to their non-Native peers.

Objective: This study investigated multilevel ecodevelopmental influences on empirically derived patterns of substance use among urban American Indian adolescents.

Method: Data came from 8th, 10th, and 12th grade American Indian adolescents ( = 2,407) in metropolitan areas of Arizona.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorders, represent a significant public health problem, with adolescents particularly vulnerable to their adverse effects. This study examined the possible anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of biotin, a crucial vitamin for brain function, in attenuating the behavioral and neurobiological changes associated with alcohol withdrawal in adolescent rats.

Materials And Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a 20% ethanol solution for 21 days, followed by a 21-day drug-free period to assess long-term behavioral and physiological changes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Genetic factors shaping the plasma lipidome and the relations to cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.

EBioMedicine

January 2025

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Background: Lipid species are emerging as biomarkers for cardiometabolic risk in both adults and children. The genetic regulation of lipid species and their impact on cardiometabolic risk during early life remain unexplored.

Methods: Using mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, we measured 227 plasma lipid species in 1149 children and adolescents (44.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Assessing the drivers of sexual behavior among youth and its social determinants in Nepal.

PLoS One

January 2025

Health Research and Social Development Forum (HERD) International, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Introduction: Sexual behavior among youth is a public health concern, particularly in contexts where cultural norms, socio-economic factors, and access to comprehensive sexual education play pivotal roles. This paper aims to examine the determinants of sexual behavior among Nepali youths.

Methods: This study analyzed data from 7,122 individuals aged 15-24 years from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022, focusing on a nationally representative sample.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the impact of psychoactive substance use and second-hand smoke (SHS) on sleep disturbances in adults and children within a Ugandan urban informal settlement.
  • A cross-sectional analysis of 284 adults revealed a significant prevalence of sleep issues, with smoking linked to insomnia and alcohol consumption associated with sleep dissatisfaction.
  • Children exposed to SHS, particularly during early life, showed a markedly higher risk of experiencing sleep-disordered breathing compared to their unexposed peers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!