After a second binge, animals acted less intoxicated, but experienced more severe withdrawal.

<p>In this figure, “Single Binge” indicates data from animals that underwent one binge combined with the first binge data from animals that underwent 2 binges (“Two Binge”). During the second binge, animals took longer to act intoxicated (A), despite initially receiving more ethanol (B) and having blood ethanol concentrations that were similar to Single Binge (C). Following a second binge, withdrawal symptoms were significantly increased overall (D). *p<0.05; † p<0.05 significant main effect of Binge.</p

Exercise enhanced survival of cells generated post-binge.

<p>Sedentary single Binge animals had significantly more IdU+ cells (A; scale bar = 100 µm) 35 days post-binge (B). Sedentary Two Binge animals showed a non-significant increase. In all groups, exercise significantly increased the number of IdU+ cells. Within binged animals, there was a significant positive correlation between number of IdU+ cells and volume of the DG (C) and between number of IdU+ cells and number of granule neurons (D). * p<0.05</p

Experimental design and time course of events.

<p>Animals underwent either 0 (control diet), 1 or 2 binges. Beginning 7 days after the last binge, half the animals in each group exercised for 28 days (groups E0, E1, E2). In order to label cells generated in response to the first binge, all animals received IdU 7 days after the last dose of ethanol. In order to label cells generated in response to the second binge, animals in the Two Binge groups (S2 and E2) received CldU 7 days after the end of the second binge. All animals were sacrificed 35 days after the last binge.</p

Fewer cells were labeled following a second binge.

<p>Cells generated 7 days after the first binge were labeled with IdU, while cells generated 7 days after the second binge were labeled with CldU. In both sedentary (S2) and exercised (E2) Two Binge animals, there were significantly fewer CldU+ cells, compared with IdU+ cells. *p<0.05</p