The integration of new neurons into the existing hippocampal circuitry is now considered crucial for hippocampal function (Imayoshi et al., 2008), which implicates altered hippocampal neurogenesis in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, such as drug and alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety (Canales, 2007; Eisch et al., 2008; Nixon, 2006). These results show that this process remains impaired during intoxication in a rodent model of an AUD, although a single, acute dose of alcohol (5 g/kg) appears more potent (Crews et al., 2006b). Although several studies have shown that the adolescent hippocampus may be particularly susceptible to alcohol-induced neurodegenerative events in the long term (Evrard et al., 2006; Hargreaves et al., 2009; Pascual et al., 2007), these data do not suggest an enhanced sensitivity to alcohol inhibition of neurogenesis in adolescent rats within the context of alcohol dependence. However, many aspects of how new neurons develop, become integrated in to dentate gyrus and function have not been investigated. Perhaps those cells that are born and survive though alcohol intoxication have impaired functions due to inappropriate synaptic connections or any number of altered
