Ethanol consumption and free operant avoidance performance following exposure to dietary lead.
Rats were exposed ad libitum to a diet containing either 500 ppm lead (Group Lead-Diet) or a control diet with no added lead (Group Control-Diet). On Day 60 both groups were presented with a 15% ethanol solution (nonchoice test) in the home cage for five days prior to placement on a choice test that presented animals with a 10% ethanol solution and tap water. Concurrently with the choice test in the home cage, animals were placed in operant chambers for one hr (pre-avoidance) prior to a 30 min free operant avoidance session (avoidance) and remained there for one hr (post-avoidance) after training. Throughout avoidance training, the choice test was conducted in the chamber as well as the home cage. In addition to evidence of greater ethanol consumption by Group Lead-Diet rats, the results showed that these animals lever pressed more frequently, but not more efficiently, than Group Control-Diet animals.
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
J R
JR
Nation
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DM
Baker
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MA
Fantasia
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AE
Ruscher
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DE
Clark
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004597:Electroshock; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains