Voluminous sucrose consumption in female rats: increased "nippiness" during periods of sucrose removal and possible oestrus periodicity.
In a two-bottle paradigm in which water and 10% sucrose water were always available, female rats drank about 200 cc of the sugar water (about 65 g of sucrose/kg) per day for 4 wk. There were no significant decreases in consumption over this time. In Exp. 2 female rats singly housed were given two bottles containing water for 1 wk. and then a bottle containing water and a bottle containing 15% sucrose for the next week for 6 wk. When sucrose was available, the rats ate 33% more rat chow. When sucrose was removed, the rats displayed more episodes of biting a stimulus when the food cubes were being removed for daily measurements. Some females exhibited a marked 4- to 5-day periodicity in sucrose (7.5%) consumption. The persistent and voluminous consumption of sucrose water and enhanced agonistic-like behavior during periods of withdrawal suggests the presence of a robust phenomenon with potential dinical applications to the challenge of addiction.
Galic
M A
MA
Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Persinger
M A
MA
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013395:Sucrose