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Species difference in sensitivity to ethanol's hedonic effects

C L Cunningham¹, J S Niehus, D Noble

¹Department of Medical Psychology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098.

Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)

|March 1, 1993

Summary

Rats and mice exhibit different responses to ethanol in a place conditioning test. Mice showed a preference for ethanol, suggesting they may be a better model for studying ethanol

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Behavioral Pharmacology
Animal Models

Background:

Rats and mice are commonly used in preclinical research but may differ in their response to ethanol.
Previous studies suggest species-specific differences in ethanol's rewarding effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To directly compare the place conditioning responses to ethanol in genetically heterogeneous rats and mice using an identical experimental procedure.

Main Methods:

Animals (rats and mice) received pairings of a tactile stimulus with ethanol (1.5 g/kg) or saline.
Locomotor activity was monitored.
Preference or aversion to the ethanol-paired stimulus was assessed.

Main Results:

Ethanol suppressed activity in rats but increased activity in mice.

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Rats displayed aversion to the ethanol-paired stimulus, while mice showed a preference.

These behavioral differences were not due to variations in housing, apparatus, stimuli, or timing.

Conclusions:

A significant species difference exists in the initial hedonic (pleasurable) effects of ethanol.
Mice may be a more suitable animal model than rats for investigating ethanol-induced preferences.
Potential explanations include species differences in tolerance/sensitization or the time-course of ethanol's effects.