Does context influence the duration of locomotor sensitization to ethanol in female DBA/2J mice?
BACKGROUND
Repeated exposure to ethanol produces a progressive increase in locomotor sensitivity, referred to as locomotor sensitization. Locomotor sensitization may persist for some time after termination of repeated drug exposure, and context appears to facilitate expression of the behavioral phenomenon. However, many unanswered questions remain concerning the persistence of and degree to which context influences locomotor sensitization to alcohol (ethanol).


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the present work was to determine the duration of locomotor sensitization to ethanol and the degree to which context dependence positively influences the induction, expression, and persistence of the behavioral phenomenon in female DBA/2J mice.


METHODS
Sensitized (with or without ethanol-paired exposure to the testing chamber) and non-sensitized saline control mice were left undisturbed in their home cages until subsequent ethanol challenge and testing in the locomotor activity testing chambers 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and/or 70 days after cessation of the ethanol sensitization procedure. Retro-orbital sinus bloods were sampled to determine whether the sensitization procedure had altered blood ethanol clearance rates.


RESULTS
Locomotor sensitization persisted through post-sensitization day 14, and repeated paring of the drug and testing context prolonged the expression of this phenomenon through at least post-sensitization day 28. Blood ethanol concentrations did not differ.


CONCLUSIONS
Locomotor sensitization to ethanol persists for some time after cessation of repeated ethanol exposure, and the association of contextual cues with the ethanol experience lengthens this persistence. The present data lay the groundwork for investigations into the neuroadaptive changes that underlie locomotor sensitization to ethanol in mice.
Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA. sboehm@binghamton.edu
Stephen L
SL
Boehm
Karen J
KJ
Goldfarb
Kristen M
KM
Serio
Eileen M
EM
Moore
David N
DN
Linsenbardt
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003463:Cues; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol