Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Persistent high alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring (P) rats results from a lack of normal aversion to alcohol.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rezvani, AH; Sexton, H; Levin, ED
Published in: Alcohol Alcohol
2010

AIMS: In this study, we tested the impact of pretreatment with alcohol on subsequent alcohol drinking in outbred Sprague-Dawley and selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats. METHODS: As a pretreatment, male Sprague-Dawley and P rats were given a passive oral administration of either alcohol (1.0 g/kg) or tap water. Then, they were given free choice of drinking alcohol (5% v/v) or water in their home cages, which was measured over 4 weeks. RESULTS: Without alcohol pretreatment, there was no significant strain difference in alcohol preference; both strains preferred 5% (v/v) alcohol solution. The strain difference was only apparent in the groups given alcohol pretreatment. This arose from the fact that alcohol pretreatment significantly reduced alcohol preference in the Sprague-Dawley rats to a level well below 50%, while it did not alter drinking behavior in P rats. The same effects were seen with total alcohol consumption (g/kg/day). These effects persisted throughout the 4 weeks of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The principal difference between the Sprague-Dawley and P rats was that the P rats did not show the normal aversion to alcohol after forced exposure to alcohol that the Sprague-Dawley rats showed. One of the potential contributors to high alcohol intake and preference in P rats may be lack of sensitivity to aversive effects of alcohol.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Alcohol Alcohol

DOI

EISSN

1464-3502

Publication Date

2010

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

219 / 222

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Species Specificity
  • Reward
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Ethanol
  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Animals
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Rezvani, A. H., Sexton, H., & Levin, E. D. (2010). Persistent high alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring (P) rats results from a lack of normal aversion to alcohol. Alcohol Alcohol, 45(3), 219–222. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agq020
Rezvani, Amir H., Hannah Sexton, and Edward D. Levin. “Persistent high alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring (P) rats results from a lack of normal aversion to alcohol.Alcohol Alcohol 45, no. 3 (2010): 219–22. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agq020.
Rezvani, Amir H., et al. “Persistent high alcohol consumption in alcohol-preferring (P) rats results from a lack of normal aversion to alcohol.Alcohol Alcohol, vol. 45, no. 3, 2010, pp. 219–22. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agq020.
Journal cover image

Published In

Alcohol Alcohol

DOI

EISSN

1464-3502

Publication Date

2010

Volume

45

Issue

3

Start / End Page

219 / 222

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Substance Abuse
  • Species Specificity
  • Reward
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Ethanol
  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Animals