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Consumption of alcohol by sows in a choice test.
Sylvie Cloutier1, Tracy L Skaer, Ruth C Newberry
1Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology, Center for the Study of Animal Well-being, Washington State University, PO Box 646520, Pullman, WA 99164-6520, USA. scloutie@vetmed.wsu.edu
Physiology & Behavior
|April 25, 2006
Summary
This study investigated if pregnant pigs develop a psychological dependence on alcohol. Results showed that non-voluntary alcohol consumption did not lead to alcohol preference in sows, even after withdrawal.
Area of Science:
- Animal models of addiction
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) exhibit voluntary alcohol consumption, tolerance, and physical dependence, suggesting potential as an animal model for human alcoholism.
- However, the capacity of pigs to develop psychological dependence on alcohol remains unestablished.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if pregnant sows, fed alcohol non-voluntarily, develop a preference for alcohol.
- To assess if this preference persists after alcohol withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant sows were fed alcohol mixed with feed non-voluntarily for five weeks.
- Control sows received dextrose as a caloric control.
- Sow diet preference was evaluated through choice tests before, during, and after the treatment period.
Main Results:
- Contrary to the hypothesis, no significant treatment effect on diet preference was observed.
- Both alcohol-treated and control sows consumed less alcohol-supplemented feed compared to other diets.
- Sows did not discriminate between plain and dextrose-supplemented diets.
Conclusions:
- Five weeks of non-voluntary alcohol consumption did not induce alcohol preference in pregnant sows.
- These findings provide no evidence for the development of psychological dependence on alcohol in pigs under these experimental conditions.