Sex differences in emotional and cognitive tasks in rats exposed to alcohol binges and controls during early adulthood

A sex perspective in the behavioural effects induced by alcohol binge exposure during youth or early adulthood remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high doses of ethanol on emotional behaviour and cognition in 8-weeks old rats, from a sex perspective. Male and female animals were exposed to ethanol binges (3 g/kg, i.g.; 3 times/day x 4 days) in a 2days on-2days off paradigm and assessed in the elevated plus maze (EPM), forced swimming test (FST), saccharin preference test (SPT), Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) test. Baseline differences between control male and females were observed in emotional, motivational and cognitive tasks. Additionally, Intensive Alcohol Exposure (IAE) exerted sex-specific effects in: a) EPM: males showed anxiety and no effect in females; b) FST: depressive-like symptoms in both sexes but more pronounce immobility time in females; c) NOR test: impairment in a short-term memory in both sexes but females displayed improved performance in a long-term versus their controls. No IAE-related effects were found in the SPT or MWM. These results suggest inherent sex-differences in rodent performance in behavioural tests assessing emotional, motivational and cognitive behaviours. Additionally, IAE may impact male and females differently during abstinence in early adulthood. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex as a critical variable for preclinical studies.