title: Ethanol self-administration in free-flying honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in an operant conditioning protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the effect of ethanol (EtOH) on continuous reinforcement schedules in the free-flying honeybee (Apis mellifera L.). As fermented nectars may be encountered naturally in the environment, we designed an experiment combining the tools of laboratory research with minimal disturbance to the natural life of honeybees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five honeybees were trained to fly from their colonies to a fully automated operant chamber with head poking as the operant response. Load size, intervisit interval, and interresponse times (IRTs) served as the dependent variables and were monitored over the course of a daily training session consisting of many visits. Experimental bees were tested using an ABA design in which sucrose only was administered during condition A and a 5% EtOH sucrose solution was administered during condition B. Control bees received sucrose solution only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most bees continued to forage after EtOH introduction. EtOH significantly reduced the load size and the intervisit interval with no significant effect on IRTs. However, a look on individual data shows large individual differences suggesting the existence of different kinds of behavioral phenotypes linked to EtOH consumption and effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results contribute to the study of EtOH consumption as a normal phenomenon in an ecological context and open the door to schedule-controlled drug self-administration studies in honeybees.
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne, INSERM, Groupe de Recherche sur l'Alcool et les Pharmacodépendances, Université de Picardie, Amiens, France. michel.sokolowski@u-picardie.fr
authors.forename: Michel B C
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sokolowski
authors.forename: Charles I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.forename: David Philip Arthur
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D003625:Data Collection; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007206:Individuality; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol