Initial subjective reward to alcohol in Sprague-Dawley rats

Initial subjective response to the rewarding properties of alcohol predicts voluntary consumption and the risk for alcohol use disorders. We assessed the initial subjective reward to alcohol in rats using a single exposure conditioned place preference (SE-CPP) paradigm. Sprague-Dawley rats demonstrate preference for a context paired with a single systemic injection of ethanol (1.0  g/kg, delivered intraperitoneally). However, expression of SE-CPP in males depended on pairing ethanol with the first exposure to the conditioning apparatus and procedures, while conditioning day did not appreciably affect SE-CPP in females, consistent with the view that females experience heighte ned addiction vulnerability.

Source: Alcohol - November 22, 2016 Category: Addiction Authors: Todd B. Nentwig, Kevin P. Myers, Judith E. Grisel Source Type: research