A previous study (McBride et al., 2010) examined the effects of adult binge-like drinking on gene expression in the Acb-sh and CeA of adult P rats. A similar procedure of 3 one-h sessions per day during the dark cycle for 5 consecutive days each week was used in this previous study. The ethanol intakes and BELs for the adolescent and adult P rats were similar (Bell et al., 2011; McBride et al., 2010). In the Acb-sh, although there were 4 genes (Hhex, Nyw1, Usp18, Zfp36l1) in common between the present study (Supplemental Table A) and the previous adult study (McBride et al., 2010), the direction of change was not similar. In the CeA, there were 8 genes in common between the adult and adolescent findings, with 6 genes (Asrd, Cxcl12, Nsf, Tfrc, Ube2b, Zc3h8) changing in the same direction in both studies and only 2 genes (Ier2, Nfil3) changing in opposite directions. The overall general paucity of common genes between the adult and adolescent findings in the Acb-sh and CeA may illustrate the unique effects that ethanol has during the peri-adolescent period.
