Sucrose self-administration predicts only initial phase of ethanol-reinforced behaviour in Wistar rats.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the relationship between the sucrose- and ethanol-reinforced behaviour in Wistar rats.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 31) were trained to lever press for 8% (v/v) ethanol in an operant procedure where increasing concentrations of ethanol were introduced in the presence of 8% (w/v) sucrose. The sucrose concentration was subsequently decreased from 8 to 0%. Subjects were allowed to stabilize their intake of 8% ethanol over the next 20 days.


RESULTS
Self-administration of 8% sucrose (ml/kg) significantly correlated with ethanol consumption (g/kg) on days 1-5 of the 8% ethanol self-administration period. This relationship completely disappeared during the subsequent weeks of ethanol self-administration (days 6-20).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study, combined with our previous findings, may indicate that self-administration of sucrose predicts only the initial phase of ethanol-taking behaviour in Wistar rats.
Rogowski
Artur
A
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9 St., PL-02957 Warsaw, Poland.
Kostowski
Wojciech
W
Bienkowski
Przemyslaw
P
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000431:Ethanol; D013395:Sucrose