Behavioral and Amygdala Biochemical Damage Induced by Alternating Mild Stress and Ethanol Intoxication in Adolescent Rats: Reversal by Argan Oil Treatment?

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-10, Vol.25 (19), p.10529
• Main Authors: El Mostafi, Hicham, Elhessni, Aboubaker, Doumar, Hanane, Touil, Tarik, Mesfioui, Abdelhalem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstinence; adolescence; Alcohol and youth; Alcohol use; Alcohol withdrawal; Alcoholic Intoxication - drug therapy; Alcoholic Intoxication - metabolism; Alcoholism; Amygdala (Brain); Amygdala - drug effects; Amygdala - metabolism; amygdala damage; Animals; Argan oil; Behavior; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Brain damage; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Chemical properties; Child development; Cognitive ability; Corticosterone - blood; Ethanol; Ethanol - adverse effects; Ethanol - toxicity; ethanol binge-like; Health aspects; Male; mild stress; Neurodegeneration; neuroprotection; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pediatric research; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Prevention; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Risk factors; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - drug therapy; Vegetable oils; Water
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms251910529

Adolescence is a critical period when the effects of ethanol and stress exposure are particularly pronounced. Argan oil (AO), a natural vegetable oil known for its diverse pharmacological benefits, was investigated for its potential to mitigate addictive-like behaviors and brain damage induced by adolescent intermittent ethanol intoxication (IEI) and unpredictable mild stress (UMS). From P30 to P43, IEI rats received a daily ip ethanol (3 g/kg) on a two-day on/two-day off schedule. On alternate days, the rats were submitted to UMS protocol. Next, a two-bottle free access paradigm was performed over 10 weeks to assess intermittent 20% ethanol voluntary consumption. During the same period, the rats were gavaged daily with AO (15 mL/kg). Our results show that IEI/UMS significantly increased voluntary alcohol consumption (from 3.9 g/kg/24 h to 5.8 g/kg/24 h) and exacerbated withdrawal signs and relapse-like drinking in adulthood. Although AO treatment slightly reduced ethanol intake, it notably alleviated withdrawal signs during abstinence and relapse-like drinking in adulthood. AO's effects were associated with its modulation of the HPA axis (elevated serum corticosterone), restoration of amygdala oxidative balance, BDNF levels, and attenuation of neurodegeneration. These findings suggest that AO's neuroprotective properties could offer a potential therapeutic avenue for reducing ethanol/stress-induced brain damage and addiction. Further research is needed to explore its mechanisms and therapeutic potential in alcohol use disorders.