Aversive attributes of ethanol can be attenuated by dyadic social interaction in the rat.
Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were conditioned with either water or 4 g/kg ethanol in a standard drug place-learning task. In addition to the drug treatment, the opportunity for social interaction with either a sober or intoxicated conspecific was varied across groups (N = 8 rats/group). Ethanol produced a robust conditioned place aversion. The opportunity for dyadic social interaction with either a sober or intoxicated cohort attenuated the aversive attributes of ethanol. However, the initial preference scores did not significantly shift in water-conditioned rats in isolation or given access to either a sober or intoxicated cohort. These data are similar to clinical reports and suggest that social factors can influence the aversive affective properties of ethanol.
Gauvin
D V
DV
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73190-3000.
Briscoe
R J
RJ
Goulden
K L
KL
Holloway
F A
FA
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012931:Social Environment
D000431:Ethanol