Adolescent Binge Drinking Harms Adult Brain's Appetite and Stress Signals.

The hypothalamus and amygdala are crucial brain regions involved in regulating appetite, stress responses, and reward pathways. α-MSH (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone), a neuropeptide, plays a significant role in these functions, particularly within the melanocortin system which influences energy balance and emotional processing. While the detrimental effects of adolescent alcohol exposure are known, the specific long-term impact of adolescent binge-like ethanol exposure on basal α-MSH expression in these critical adult brain areas remained unclear.