Novel versus familiar ethanol: a comparison of aversive and rewarding properties

Rats were given a series of the conditioning trials during which sucrose solution was paired with ethanol which had previously been experienced on 0, 3, or 9 occasions. On each conditioning trial, the rats received a Taste Reactivity Trial, a Taste Avoidance Trial, and a Place-Conditioning Trial. After the rats had received 4 conditioning trials, they were given a Conditioned Place Preference Test, a Taste Reactivity (TR) Test, and a Conditioned Aversion Extinction Test. Only the group conditioned with novel ethanol demonstrated aversive TR responses, although all CS + groups eventually demonstrated suppressed ingestive TR responses and enhanced neutral TR responses. Familiarization attenuated, but did not eliminate, ethanol-induced CTAs. There was no evidence of place conditioning.