Here, we enquired whether adult neurogenesis in the SGZ and the SVZ is altered following a prolonged history of dependence, and whether any changes persist into protracted abstinence. We exposed rats to 7 wk of daily intermittent cycles of alcohol vapour intoxication and withdrawal using a model that reliably produces alcohol dependence and a lasting post-dependent state (Heilig et al. 2009; Heilig & Koob, 2007). Cell proliferation, differentiation of new cells into neurons, and stem cell populations were studied at a series of time-points, covering a period from intoxication to 3 wk of abstinence.
