The effects of acute stress on ethanol absorption in LS and SS mice

Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that naive long-sleep (LS) mice absorb ethanol faster than short-sleep (SS) mice when administered 6.0 g/kg ethanol intragastrically (IG). We also demonstrated that the removal of the adrenal glands results in decreased absorption in both lines of mouse. The present study was designed to assess whether acute short-term elevations of corticosterone produced by exposure to a mild stressor could also alter ethanol absorption in LS and SS mice. Because a difference in ethanol absorption rates was observed in LS mice as a function of time of day, all stress experiments were performed in the morning. CCS elevation was induced by exposure to an elevated plus-maze for 45 min. LS mice demonstrated greater CCS release in response to this stressor than SS mice. This exposure to a mild stressor produced an increase in ethanol absorption in both lines of mice receiving a 6.0 g/kg intragastric dose of ethanol. Although this effect of stress on ethanol absorption could be prevented by adrenalectomy in SS mice, adrenalectomy alone did not completely block these effects of stress on ethanol absorption in LS mice. Dexamethasome treatment at the time of adrenalectomy was required to block the effects of stress on ethanol absorption in LS mice. These results suggest that exposure to mild stressors may alter ethanol pharmacokinetic parameters but that genetic factors may play a role in this response via regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.