EARLY SOCIAL FACTORS AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

据报道，年轻人开始饮酒的年龄 不断减少。最近的调查显示， 13岁的孩子喝酒，大约70%的高中生喝酒。 每月饮酒一次以上。 在这些人中，几乎有一个- 第三次报告酗酒（定义为每小时饮酒超过5杯） 在每周的基础上。 根据这些惊人的统计数据， 我们对青少年的根本原因缺乏了解， 酗酒是令人惊讶的，也是令人不安的。 量最大 关于这个主题的数据来自于使用选择性繁殖的研究， 啮齿类动物的品系显示出明显的酒精中毒遗传决定因素。 然而，人们也认识到，单靠遗传学不能解释 酗酒的普遍性。 经验因素也必须发挥作用， 无论是单独的还是与遗传倾向相结合的。 由于 酒精消费模式的早期发病年龄，很可能是， 在生命早期发生的酒精经验有助于 后来接受了这种药物。 人类有很多方法 婴儿可以体验到酒精的味道/气味提示， 积极的社会环境。 例如，呼吸的酒精气味可以 从同类中检测出来。 直接接触乙醇也可以 通过摄入从酒精中获得的母乳发生- 吸的母亲。 酒精的峰值浓度在乳房中发现 母亲摄入后1小时内的牛奶，以及牛奶中的酒精含量 相当于母亲血液中的酒精含量 的具体目标 这一建议是为了研究这些类型的早期经验，以及如何 它们可能有助于年轻生物体的积极学习 酒精和情感环境之间的联系。 我们的研究将 重点是使用发育中的大鼠作为模型系统。 第一类型的 将被研究的酒精经验是通过 在一次模拟哺乳中摄入了掺有酒精的牛奶。 在护理期间长期接触这种药物可能会导致严重的 后来自愿饮酒的后果。 第二类型的 可能导致酒精接受模式改变的经验是 通过与刚刚摄入了 酒精 据估计，检测到呼吸酒精， 这种情况会增加以后的酒精摄入量。 两种早期 对乙醇气味和味道的体验可能具有实质性的 并可能对动物的进食意愿产生长期影响 酒精

The age at which alcohol consumption by young adults begins is reported to be ever decreasing. Recent surveys indicate that over 10 percent of 13-year-olds use alcohol and about 70 percent of high schoolers consume alcohol more than once per month. Of these individuals, nearly one- third report binge drinking (defined as consuming more than 5 drinks per occasion) on a weekly basis. In light of these astonishing statistics, our lack of understanding about the underlying causes of adolescent- onset drinking is surprising as well as disturbing. The largest amount of data on this topic has come from studies using selectively-bred strains of rodents showing a clear genetic determinant of alcoholism. However, it is also recognized that genetics alone cannot account for the prevalence of alcohol abuse. Experiential factors must also act, either alone or in concert with genetic predispositions. Due to the early age of onset of alcohol consumption patterns, it is likely that experiences with alcohol occurring very early in life contribute to later acceptance of this drug. There are many ways through which human infants can experience the taste/odor cues of alcohol associated with highly positive social contexts. For example, respired alcohol odor can be detected from conspecifics. Direct exposure to ethanol can also occur through the ingestion of breast milk obtained from an alcohol- imbibing mother. Peak concentrations of alcohol are found in breast milk within 1 hour after maternal ingestion, and alcohol levels in milk are equivalent to maternal blood-alcohol levels. The specific aims of this proposal are to examine these types of early experience and how they might contribute to a young organism's learning positive associations between alcohol and affective context. Our studies will focus on using the developing rat as a model system. The first type of experience with alcohol that will be studied is exposure through the ingestion of alcohol-adulterated milk during a simulated nursing bout. Long-term exposure to this drug during nursing could have serious consequences for later voluntary intake of alcohol. A second type of experience that could lead to modified alcohol acceptance patterns is through social interactions with a conspecific that has just ingested alcohol. It is anticipated that the detection of respired alcohol in this situation will increase later alcohol intake. Both types of early experience with the odor and taste of ethanol could have a substantial and possibly long-term impact on an animal's willingness to ingest alcohol.