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Mouse strain differences in oral operant ethanol reinforcement under continuous access conditions
F O Risinger1, M M Brown, A M Doan
1Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, 97201-3098, USA.
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|June 11, 1998
Summary
C57BL/6J mice self-administer ethanol more readily than DBA/2J mice, demonstrating ethanol
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Genetic factors influence alcohol consumption and reinforcement.
- Understanding strain differences in ethanol self-administration can elucidate neurobiological mechanisms of addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare ethanol self-administration and reinforcement efficacy between C57BL/6J (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) mice.
- To investigate the role of ethanol concentration and saccharin addition on self-administration patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a continuous access operant procedure for ethanol self-administration in adult male C57 and DBA mice.
- Assessed responding for food, water, and varying concentrations of ethanol (0-30% v/v).
- Introduced saccharin to ethanol solutions to evaluate its effect on reinforcement.
Main Results:
- C57 mice exhibited significantly higher rates of ethanol self-administration compared to DBA mice.
- Ethanol acted as a concentration-dependent reinforcer in C57 mice, but not in DBA mice.
- Saccharin addition increased ethanol self-administration in both strains, with C57 mice showing higher responding.
Conclusions:
- Oral ethanol is a more effective reinforcer in C57 mice than in DBA mice.
- C57 mice demonstrate a broader range of conditions for ethanol-reinforced responding.
- Strain differences in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice are critical for understanding alcohol reinforcement mechanisms.