Differences in voluntary ethanol consumption in Wistar rats from five different suppliers

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Understanding alcohol use disorders (AUDs) requires valid animal models.
• Wistar rats are commonly used, with selectively bred lines for high/low ethanol intake.
• Variability in Wistar rat ethanol intake across studies suggests supplier differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare voluntary ethanol intake in Wistar rats from five different suppliers.
• To investigate the impact of supplier origin on ethanol consumption patterns.

Main Methods:

• Wistar rats from five suppliers (BK, Charles River, Hsd, RccHan™, Taconic) were used.
• A three-bottle free-choice paradigm with 5% and 20% ethanol and water was employed.
• Intermittent 24-hour access was provided three times weekly for six weeks.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in median ethanol intake and preference were observed between suppliers.
• RccHan™ rats exhibited the highest ethanol intake (3.85 g/kg/24 h) and preference (~80%).
• BK rats showed the lowest intake (1.84 g/kg/24 h) and preference (~25%).
• Hsd rats demonstrated a significant increase in 5% ethanol intake over the study period.

Conclusions:

• Wistar rats from different suppliers display profound differences in voluntary ethanol consumption.
• Supplier origin is a critical parameter influencing ethanol intake and preference in Wistar rats.
• These variations can impact preclinical alcohol research outcomes and complicate inter-study comparisons.