title: The reinforcing properties of ethanol are quantitatively enhanced in adulthood by peri-adolescent ethanol, but not saccharin, consumption in female alcohol-preferring (P) rats.
abstract: Alcohol drinking during adolescence is associated in adulthood with heavier alcohol drinking and an increased rate of alcohol dependence. Past research in our laboratory has indicated that peri-adolescent ethanol consumption can enhance the acquisition and reduce the rate of extinction of ethanol self-administration in adulthood. Caveats of the past research include reinforcer specificity, increased oral consumption during peri-adolescence, and a lack of quantitative assessment of the reinforcing properties of ethanol. The current experiments were designed to determine the effects of peri-adolescent ethanol or saccharin drinking on acquisition and extinction of oral ethanol self-administration and ethanol seeking, and to quantitatively assess the reinforcing properties of ethanol (progressive ratio). Ethanol or saccharin access by alcohol-preferring (P) rats occurred during postnatal day (PND) 30-60. Animals began operant self-administration of ethanol or saccharin after PND 85. After 10 weeks of daily operant self-administration, rats were tested in a progressive ratio paradigm. Two weeks later, self-administration was extinguished in all rats. Peri-adolescent ethanol consumption specifically enhanced the acquisition of ethanol self-administration, reduced the rate of extinction for ethanol self-administration, and quantitatively increased the reinforcing properties of ethanol during adulthood. Peri-adolescent saccharin consumption was without effect. The data indicate that ethanol consumption during peri-adolescence results in neuroadaptations that may specifically enhance the reinforcing properties of ethanol during adulthood. This increase in the reinforcing properties of ethanol could be a part of biological sequelae that are the basis for the effects of adolescent alcohol consumption on the increase in the rate of alcoholism during adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. Electronic address: jtoalsto@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: Jamie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Toalston
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Deehan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Sheketha R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Engleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Rodd
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D012439:Saccharin
keywords: Adolescence; Alcoholism; Operant; Progressive ratio; Self-administration