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Published on: June 23, 2023
Peri-adolescent ethanol exposure differentially affects mechanical and thermal sensitivity in rats
Madison C Heitkamp1, Paige Marsland1, Hodaya S Katz1
1Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Binghamton University - SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA.
The Journal of Pain
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Adolescent alcohol exposure increases chronic pain sensitivity in adulthood, particularly mechanical sensitivity in both sexes and thermal sensitivity in males. This enhanced pain did not affect fear responses or learning in rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Chronic pain is a significant issue for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Adolescent ethanol (alcohol) consumption is linked to AUD and chronic pain in adulthood.
- Previous studies show adolescent alcohol exposure can increase mechanical pain sensitivity, but effects on thermal pain are inconsistent and sex-dependent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure on pain sensitivity and fear conditioning in adult rats.
- To determine if ethanol exposure alters mechanical sensitivity and thermal hyperalgesia.
- To assess sex-specific differences in pain responses and fear memory after adolescent alcohol exposure.
Main Methods:
- Long Evans rats were exposed to intermittent ethanol or air during the peri-adolescent period (postnatal days 28-68).
- Mechanical sensitivity and thermal nociception were assessed weekly during the first four weeks of abstinence.
- Fear conditioning was evaluated in week six of abstinence using a context-dependent procedure.
Main Results:
- Baseline sex differences were observed, with female rats showing higher mechanical and thermal sensitivity than males.
- Ethanol exposure augmented mechanical sensitivity in both male and female rats.
- Thermal hyperalgesia was specifically increased in male rats following ethanol exposure.
- No significant changes in unconditioned or conditioned freezing were observed due to ethanol exposure, indicating pain sensitivity did not generalize to fear responses.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent ethanol exposure potentiates adult pain sensitivity, with effects varying by sex and pain modality.
- Enhanced pain sensitivity is not associated with altered fear conditioning or aversion-based learning.
- This rat model provides a valuable tool for developing treatments for chronic pain in individuals with a history of alcohol misuse.
