Previous studies indicated that chronic 24-hour free-choice alcohol drinking increased the sensitivity and response of the posterior VTA to the rewarding effects of ethanol (Rodd et al., 2005a, b). These results suggest that ethanol drinking is producing positive effects on neuronal function within the VTA. In addition, repeated binge-like ethanol intakes of 1.5–2 g/kg/session (3 × 1-hour daily sessions) produced changes in expression of genes that could alter transcription, synaptic function, and neuronal plasticity in a generally positive manner in the Acb-shell and central nucleus of the amygdala (McBride et al., 2010). In contrast to the above results, the findings of the present study suggest a more negative effect of alcohol drinking on cellular function. Main differences between the current study and the previous 3 reports are that BECs in excess of 200 mg% were attained on a daily basis over several weeks in the present study, that different time points after drinking were measured, and that different tissues were assayed. Such chronically high brain levels of alcohol may produce excessive cellular oxidative stress and eventually cause neuronal damage within
