title: Oral self-administration of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the rat.
abstract: The present study describes the induction of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) preference over water in rats. GHB solution (1% w/v in water) was initially offered as the sole fluid available for 14 consecutive days. Subsequently, rats were given a free choice of GHB solution and tap water for 20 consecutive weeks. Under the free-choice regimen, all rats showed periods of preference for GHB solution over water and periods of voluntary abstinence from GHB. On GHB-preference days, GHB was ingested at pharmacologically relevant doses. GHB intake occurred in 2-3 discrete episodes during the nocturnal phase. The development of an animal model of GHB self-administration may constitute a useful tool in the investigation of the neurobiological substrates of GHB-reinforcing properties.
authors.affiliation: C.N.R. Center for Neuropharmacology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agabio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balaklievskaia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lobina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gessa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D012978:Sodium Oxybate