Repeated social defeat or repeated ethanol: Consequences on ethanol drinking and ethanol-induced psychomotor effects in mice

Exposure to ethanol promotes neuroadaptations on brain reward systems, rendering them hyper responsive to drugs. Likewise, repeated exposure to episodic social defeat stress seems to sensitize brain reward pathways, promoting cross-sensitization with drugs and increased drug intake. In contrast, exposure to continuous social defeat may induce an anhedonic state associated with the reduction of drug reward. To assess whether repeated exposure to two types of social defeat stress or repeated treatment with ethanol induces sensitization to the stimulant effect of ethanol and promotes increased voluntary ethanol consumption.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: G.C. Macedo, D. Suchecki, I.M.H. Quadros Source Type: research