Resveratrol Improves Cognitive Impairments Caused by AdolescentIntermittent Ethanol Exposure in Adult Rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of RSV (resveratrol) on cognitive function in rats exposed to AIE (adolescent intermittent ethanol) and its potential mechanisms. AIE-exposed rat models were established by intermittent gavage of 25% ethanol and the RSV or the Veh (vehicle) was administered intragastrically. The results of the open field test showed that compared with the Con+Veh group, the number of center zoneentries (P<0.01) and the distance in center (P<0.001) of the Eth+Veh group were significantly reduced. AfterRSV treatment, compared with the Eth+Veh group, the number of center zone entries (P<0.01) and the distancein center (P<0.05) of the Eth+RSV group were significantly increased. The results of the elevated plus maze testshowed that compared with the Con+Veh group, the open arm duration and the open arm entries of rats in theEth+Veh group were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the Eth+Veh group, the open arm entries ofrats in the Eth+RSV group were significantly increased (P<0.05), but the open arm entries were no statistical difference (P>0.05). The results of the Morris water maze test showed that compared with the Con+Veh group, thelatency to target of the Eth+Veh group was significantly increased (P<0.01) and the target crossings were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the Eth+Veh group, the latency to target and the target crossings of theEth+RSV group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results of Nissl staining showed that compared with theCon+Veh group, the number of neurons in the mPFC (medial prefrontal cortex) in the Eth+Veh group was significantly decreased (P<0.001). Compared with the Eth+Veh group, the number of neurons in the Eth+RSV group wassignificantly increased (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that compared with the Con+Veh group, the proteinexpression levels of SIRT1 (P<0.05), BDNF (P<0.05), and PSD95 (P<0.05) in mPFC of rats in the Eth+Veh groupwere significantly decreased. Compared with the Eth+Veh group, the protein expression levels of SIRT1 (P<0.01),BDNF (P<0.05), and PSD95 (P<0.05) in the mPFC of rats in the Eth+RSV group were significantly increased.These results suggest that RSV can improve the cognitive impairment induced by AIE in rats and increase the number of neuronal in mPFC, which may be related to the increased expression of SIRT1, BDNF, and PSD95 in mPFC.