Single-dose ethanol intoxication causes acute and lasting neuronal changes in the brain

Single-dose ethanol intoxication causes acute and lasting neuronal changes in the brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022; 119 (25) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122477119 

To better understand the changes in the brain that support the transition from sporadic drinking to chronic alcohol abuse, we identified distinct effects of single ethanol exposure on a molecular, cellular, and behavioral level. Similar to learning and memory processes, the idea was to discover lasting changes that could mediate lasting ethanol reward memories. By imaging the brains of acutely exposed mice, we found that ethanol induced lasting changes in synaptic morphology, the axon initial segment, and mitochondrial trafficking. In Drosophila flies, specific knockdown of mitochondrial trafficking abolished positive ethanol reward memories. Together, our data suggest that a single ethanol exposure induces plastic changes which in turn could contribute to the basis of ethanol dependence.

More commentary here:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220826113320.htm

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