Exposure to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor in Adolescence Differentially Affects Consummatory and Appetitive Behavior in Response to a Non-Drug Reward in Adulthood
Faculty Mentor
Gerald Deehan
Mentor Home Department
Psychology
Short Abstract
Alcohol use disorders in adolescents are prevalent in the United States. Exposure to alcohol (EtOH) in adolescence has long-term effects on the brain reward system. In this study, alterations in appetitive and consummatory behaviors were tested in adulthood following binge-like EtOH exposure in adolescence. The research utilized 40 male Wistar rats, randomly divided into two groups. One group was exposed to 14-days of EtOH vapor using the chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) paradigm, while the control group experienced the same environment without EtOH exposure (Air). Once the rats reached adulthood, they underwent 14-days of operant testing with access to two sippers where licks on the tubes were measured by the computer. One sipper contained 0.1% blueberry extract with 5% sucrose (non-drug reward), and the other sipper contained water. When the animal met the response requirement for fixed ratio (FR) number of licks, 0.1 mL of fluid would dispense into the sipper. The FR requirement gradually increased from an FR 2 to an FR 4 and finally an FR 8. Once FR 8 testing was completed, a subset of animals from both groups were placed in home cages where they received 24-hr free access to 10% EtOH and water. The CIE animals exhibited a lower average number of licks to obtain the non-drug reward but consumed significantly more 10% EtOH than the Air animals. Thus, it seems that binge-like alcohol exposure during adolescence may produce neurobiological alterations that affect alcohol-drinking and non-drug reward consumption differently.
Category
Science, Technology and Engineering
Start Date
5-4-2024 10:20 AM
End Date
5-4-2024 11:20 AM
Location
D.P. Culp Center Multicultural Center Presentation Room
Exposure to Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor in Adolescence Differentially Affects Consummatory and Appetitive Behavior in Response to a Non-Drug Reward in Adulthood
D.P. Culp Center Multicultural Center Presentation Room
Alcohol use disorders in adolescents are prevalent in the United States. Exposure to alcohol (EtOH) in adolescence has long-term effects on the brain reward system. In this study, alterations in appetitive and consummatory behaviors were tested in adulthood following binge-like EtOH exposure in adolescence. The research utilized 40 male Wistar rats, randomly divided into two groups. One group was exposed to 14-days of EtOH vapor using the chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) paradigm, while the control group experienced the same environment without EtOH exposure (Air). Once the rats reached adulthood, they underwent 14-days of operant testing with access to two sippers where licks on the tubes were measured by the computer. One sipper contained 0.1% blueberry extract with 5% sucrose (non-drug reward), and the other sipper contained water. When the animal met the response requirement for fixed ratio (FR) number of licks, 0.1 mL of fluid would dispense into the sipper. The FR requirement gradually increased from an FR 2 to an FR 4 and finally an FR 8. Once FR 8 testing was completed, a subset of animals from both groups were placed in home cages where they received 24-hr free access to 10% EtOH and water. The CIE animals exhibited a lower average number of licks to obtain the non-drug reward but consumed significantly more 10% EtOH than the Air animals. Thus, it seems that binge-like alcohol exposure during adolescence may produce neurobiological alterations that affect alcohol-drinking and non-drug reward consumption differently.