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Ethanol Induces Conditioned Social Preference in Male Mice
Author(s) -
Kent Kelly,
Butler Kaelan,
Wood Ruth I.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.12342
Subject(s) - conditioned place preference , psychology , preference test , conditioning , developmental psychology , saline , ethanol , endocrinology , medicine , preference , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience , addiction , statistics , mathematics , economics , microeconomics
Background Affiliative social interactions promote alcohol consumption, and alcohol also promotes affiliative behavior. Furthermore, for most species, moderate doses of ethanol ( E t OH ) and social affiliation are each rewarding. However, animal studies of drug and E t OH reward typically test individuals in isolation. To address social dimensions of E t OH reward, this study tested E t OH ‐induced conditioned social preference in male C 57 BL /6 mice with ( ORCHX + T ) and without ( ORCHX ) testosterone. Methods ORCHX +T males received E t OH (0, 1, 2, or 3 g/kg) intraperitoneally and were paired 4× for 30 minutes each with 1 of 2 stimulus males: with the CS − stimulus male after saline injection and with the CS + male following E t OH . After pairing, time spent with CS + and CS − males was measured in a 10‐minute test. Results ORCHX +T test males showed conditioned preference for the CS + male in response to 3 g/kg E t OH (change in preference: +71.3 ± 30.0 s/10 min, p < 0.05), but not for 0, 1, or 2 g/kg. By contrast, ORCHX males did not demonstrate conditioned preference for 3 g/kg E t OH (+16.0 ± 24.3 s/10 min, p > 0.05). In separate groups of mice, stimulus males ( IS +) received Et OH during pairing to determine whether test mice prefer another intoxicated mouse. Both ORCHX +T and ORCHX test mice showed an increase in preference score for the IS + mouse ( ORCHX +T: +68.1 ± 24.0 seconds; ORCHX : +58.9 ± 19.6 seconds, p < 0.05). Conclusions These data demonstrate that E t OH promotes social preference in male mice, as it does in females. Testosterone enhances this effect.