Metabolic comfort and motivation of preference for ethanol.
Rats with preference for ethanol or water were selected by the method based on the minimal contact of the animals with the tested fluids (selection was made twice for 48 hours at two-week intervals). Over four days the selected groups of animals were given 5% (v/v) ethanol as their only source of fluid. The amount of some lipid fractions in various tissues and 14C-acetate incorporation into them were measured. The levels of free amino acids and their derivatives were studied in liver, blood plasma and urine. Twenty-four hours before sacrifice, ethanol was replaced by water. The animals with preference for water or ethanol were distinguished by content of various amino acids, lipid fractions and incorporation of 14C-acetate into the latter. The differences disappeared after ingestion of small amounts of ethanol. The data obtained indicate that preference for ethanol may be regarded as a mode of optimization of metabolic self-control in the organism.
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000596:Amino Acids; D008055:Lipids