This study has pointed to changes in gene expression that might underlie some of the harmful long-term effects of binge drinking during adolescence. Repeated binge drinking decreased expression of genes involved in neurogenesis, e.g. in the WNT/β catenin pathway, long term potentiation and axonal guidance in the ventral Hippocampus. Genes involved in cholesterol production and myelin formation are decreased and a disproportionate number of genes enriched in oligodendrocytes may indicate a decrease in oligodendrocytes in the vHip. Changes in expression of genes in axonal guidance in the vHip may decrease inhibitory synapse formation and allow increased glutamatergic synapse formation, although decreased expression of shank genes might moderate the formation of excitatory synapses. Together with earlier data showing decreased expression of most genes in the serotonin pathway in the DRN of these animals (McClintick, 2015), this might partially explain reduced neurogenesis in this region.
