A Preclinical Alcohol Biobank: Samples from Behaviorally Characterized HS Rats for AUD Research

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) imposes a significant global health burden, yet effective treatments remain limited. There are no well-characterized, AUD-relevant, rodent biological sample repositories to support research in this area. To address this gap, we established the Alcohol Biobank, a comprehensive resource containing thousands of samples from over 700 (half males, half females) genetically diverse heterogeneous stock (HS) rats. Modeled after two successful cocaine and oxycodone biobanks, this repository uses the chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE) model, paired with oral self-administration, to characterize AUD-like behaviors, including ethanol consumption, preference, motivation, and withdrawal symptoms such as allodynia and anxiety-like behavior. Longitudinal samples (blood, urine, and feces) are collected before, during, and after ethanol exposure, while tissue samples (brain, heart, kidneys, liver, cecum, reproductive organs, adrenal glands, blood) are obtained at intoxication, acute withdrawal, protracted abstinence, or from naive controls. Samples are preserved via snap-freezing or paraformaldehyde fixation to support diverse applications, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and neuroanatomy. Samples are freely available to nonprofit organizations at www.alcoholbiobank.org Genetic and behavioral data about these rats are deposited in public repositories. The Alcohol Biobank facilitates collaborative research to uncover biomarkers and develop novel therapies for AUD, addressing a critical need in addiction science.