A relationship between increased voluntary alcohol preference and basal hypercorticosteronemia associated with an attenuated rise in corticosterone output during stress.
Some of the multiple biological effects of stress include activation of a variety of neuroendocrine systems, resulting in enhanced secretion of many hormones, including corticosterone, as well as facilitation of drug-seeking behavior. Therefore, we have examined the potential relationship between voluntary alcohol consumption (VAC) and corticosterone output profile using: (1) selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and nonpreferring (NP) rats; and (2) outbred male Holtzman Sprague-Dawley rats selected for (a) low basal corticosterone (< 2 micrograms/mg Cr) and high stimulation (> 250%) (L-H rats), and (b) high basal corticosterone (> 4 micrograms/mg Cr) and low stimulation of corticosterone output on 24-hour fasting stress (< 125%) (H-L rats). The results of this study show: (a) the corticosterone output profiles of P and NP rats were similar to those of H-L and L-H rats, respectively; and (b) the H-L rats exhibited significantly higher VAC than the L-H rats. In conclusion, these data suggest that basal hypercorticosteronemia associated with attenuated rise in corticosterone output during stress may be associated with increased VAC.
Prasad
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Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
Prasad
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D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013045:Species Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*
D003345:Corticosterone