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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
Supplementation with sodium butyrate protects against antibiotic-induced increases in ethanol consumption behavior in
1Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States.
Background:
We have recently reported that oral treatment of adult male C57BL/6J mice with a non-absorbable antibiotic cocktail resulted in an increase in ethanol intake and in significant reductions in butyrate-producing gut microbiota populations. This work led us to hypothesize that reduction in butyrate levels within the gut is linked to antibiotic-induced increases in voluntary ethanol consumption.
Objective:
This study tested whether ad libitum sodium butyrate supplementation can prevent antibiotic-induced ethanol consumption in mice.
Methods:
Sodium butyrate was provided to adult male C57BL/6J mice in drinking water alone or in combination with antibiotic cocktail. Effects on ethanol (20%) intake were measured using drinking in the dark and modified 2-bottle choice paradigms. Body parameters, food and liquid intake, cecum, and adipose tissues were measured during and/or at the conclusion of the drinking in the dark study. Cecal 16s rRNA was analyzed for microbiota diversity and changes in specific bacterial phyla/species.
Results:
In drinking in the dark, sodium butyrate supplementation prevented antibiotic-induced increases in ethanol intake without altering basal ethanol consumption. Furthermore, sodium butyrate supplementation lowered ethanol preference in the 2-bottle choice study. Ethanol intake was correlated to specific bacterial phyla/species. Sodium butyrate did not affect the changes in microbiota diversity and composition induced by antibiotic cocktail.
Conclusions:
The findings support a role of gut microbiota-derived butyrate in regulating alcohol-induced behaviors. Additionally, the work contributes to efforts in development of novel microbiome-based strategies as novel preventative and intervention-based therapeutics to address alcohol use disorder.
