Drinking of high concentrations of ethanol versus palatable fluids in alcohol-preferring (P) rats: valid animal model of alcoholism.
A genetically based animal model of alcoholism has been characterized in Wistar-derived rats in terms of their preference (P rats) or lack of preference (NP rats) for 10% ethanol over water. The present experiments were designed to determine: 1) whether a 10% solution of ethanol is the optimal concentration for differentiation of these lines; 2) what concentrations of ethanol are maximally preferred by P and NP rats; and 3) whether highly palatable fluids presented simultaneously with each rat's preferred solution of ethanol would alter the patterns of drinking by either the P or NP or both lines of rats. A three-bottle procedure was used to establish preference for ethanol in the presence of water as well as highly palatable solutions. The results showed that, when concentrations ranging from 3-30% were presented over a 12-day test interval, the mean absolute intake of ethanol of the P rats was 6.7 g/kg per day, with a maximum intake of 10.9 g/kg per day at the 25% concentration. These levels of intake were significantly higher than the 4.3 g/kg per day consumed during the presentation of the commonly used constant concentration of 10%. Similarly, the mean absolute intake of ethanol by the NP rats was also elevated significantly at concentrations of 15-30% (2.0 g/kg per day) above that consumed at the 10% concentration (0.4 g/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Lankford
M F
MF
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville 27858.
Roscoe
A K
AK
Pennington
S N
SN
Myers
R D
RD
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D016627:Oxidopamine; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline / Q000494:pharmacology
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline; D016627:Oxidopamine