Swiss Webster mice as a model for excessive alcohol binge drinking consumption

Binge drinking (BD) is a widespread pattern of excessive alcohol consumption among adolescents and young adults with detrimental consequences for brain development. Animal models are essential for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying BD, but selecting an appropriate model is critical to ensure relevance to human behavior. This study aims to validate a murine model of (BD) using Swiss Webster mice. To achieve this, both adolescent and adult mice were exposed to either a single binge (SB) or multiple binge (MB) of BD through intraperitoneal ethanol injections. The findings reveal that the SB protocol produces high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) (150-400 mg/dL) sustained for several hours, with no significant differences based on age or episode repetition. However, the neurotoxic effects vary, showing that in adolescents, a single episode of BD reduces brain cell survival by 25 %, whereas in adults, multiple episodes are required to observe a 17 % decrease. This murine model of BD in Swiss Webster mice fulfills the main validation criteria identified in the literature. It presents valuable opportunities for studying individual variability and the neurobiological mechanisms of BD in adolescents, in order to identify potential therapeutic targets.