Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol (AIE) Modulates Neuronal c-Fos Activation in the Preoptic Area (POA) after Poly I:C Challenge

Authors: Kayla Stern, Andrew Vore, Hannah Burzynski, Terrence Deak

Field of Study: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentors: Terrence Deak

Easel: 1

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Alcohol is the most commonly misused drug among youth in the United States, with many adolescents engaging in binge drinking. A consequence of repeated binge drinking is dysregulation of the peripheral and neuroimmune response, which may increase susceptibility to later infection across the lifespan. It was previously found that male rats with an adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) history displayed a sensitized poly I:C-induced fever response. To understand this observed sensitization of fever, the present study determines the time course and distribution of neuronal activation patterns in AIE-exposed rats challenged with poly I:C. Neuronal activation in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus after a poly I:C injection will be determined by neuronal c-Fos expression. These neurons are expected to be primarily glutamatergic, as measured by VGLUT2 expression, and a history of AIE is expected to enhance this activation at the peak time point.