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Dissociation of Ethanol and Saccharin Preference in sP and sNP rats
Author(s) -
Agablo Roberta,
Caral Mauro A.M.,
Lobina Carla,
Pani Marialaura,
Reali Roberta,
Bourov Iouri,
Gessa Gian Luigi,
Colombo Giancarlo
Publication year - 2000
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/j.1530-0277.2000.tb04548.x
Subject(s) - saccharin , ethanol , chemistry , liter , zoology , endocrinology , biochemistry , biology
Background: It has been proposed that ethanol intake and consumption of sweet tasting solutions are positively correlated in rodents. Experiment 1 of the present study investigated whether selectively bred ethanol‐preferring (sP) and ‐nonpreferring (sNP) rats differed, consistently with the above hypothesis, as to saccharin intake and preference. Experiment 2 evaluated whether saccharin addition to the ethanol solution, likely resulting in a highly palatable fluid, would result in an increase in voluntary ethanol intake in sP rats. Methods: The saccharin solution was offered, in free choice with water, at a fixed concentration of 1 giliter for 6 consecutive days in Experiment 1A or at ascending concentrations (0.002 to 16.4 g/liter, doubling the concentration every day) in Experiment 1B. In Experiment 2, 1 g/liter, doubling the concentration every day) in Experiment 1B. In Experiment 2, 1 g/liter saccharin was added to the standard 10% ethanol solution and offered to sP rats in free choice with water for 7 consecutive days. Results: In both Experiments 1A and 1B, sP and sNP rats showed avidity for the saccharin solution with marginal line difference in saccharin intake and preference. In Experiment 2, daily ethanol intake remained stable at baseline levels (6–7 g/kg), irrespective of the saccharin addition to the ethanol solution. Conclusions: The results of Experiments 1A and 1B suggest that saccharin drinking behavior in sNP rats deviates from the hypothesis that saccharin and ethanol intakes may co‐vary; thus, at least in sNP rats, saccharin and ethanol intakes do not appear to be influenced by the same genetic factors. The results of Experiment 2 provide further support to the existence of a central set‐point mechanism that regulates daily ethanol intake in sP rats, likely based on the pharmacological effects of ethanol.