title: Intracranial self-stimulation in FAST and SLOW mice: effects of alcohol and cocaine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensitivity to the stimulant and rewarding effects of alcohol may be genetically correlated traits that predispose individuals to develop an alcohol use disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the effects of alcohol and cocaine on intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) in FAST and SLOW mice, which were selectively bred for extremes in alcohol stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male FAST and SLOW mice were conditioned to respond for reinforcement by direct electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (i.e., brain stimulation reward). ICSS responses were determined immediately before and after oral gavage with water or alcohol (0.3-2.4 g/kg) or intraperitoneal injection with saline or cocaine (1.0-30.0 mg/kg). In separate FAST and SLOW mice, the locomotor effects of these treatments were measured in activity chambers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol dose-dependently lowered the threshold for self-stimulation (θ                            (0)) and the frequency that maintained 50% of maximal responding (EF50) in FAST mice but did not significantly affect these parameters in SLOW mice. The largest effects of alcohol were after the 1.7- and 2.4-g/kg doses and were about 40% compared to water injection. Alcohol did not affect MAX response rates, but dose-dependently stimulated locomotor activity in FAST mice. Cocaine lowered thresholds equally in FAST and SLOW mice, although cocaine-stimulated locomotor activity was higher in the FAST than in the SLOW mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective breeding for alcohol locomotor stimulation also renders the mice more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, but not cocaine, on ICSS.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. fishe@neurology.unc.edu
authors: Eric W
authors: EW
authors: Fish
authors: J Elliott
authors: JE
authors: Robinson
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Krouse
authors: Clyde W
authors: CW
authors: Hodge
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Reed
authors: Tamara J
authors: TJ
authors: Phillips
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Malanga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008474:Medial Forebrain Bundle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine