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Neurophysiological Findings and Drinking Levels in High‐Alcohol‐Drinking (HAD) and Low‐Alcohol‐Drinking (LAD) Rats
Author(s) -
Slawecki C. J.,
Betancourt M.,
Li TK.,
Ehlers C. L.
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.tb04566.x
Subject(s) - neurophysiology , ethanol , electroencephalography , alcohol , amygdala , electrophysiology , alcohol consumption , psychology , event related potential , medicine , neuroscience , endocrinology , audiology , physiology , chemistry , biochemistry
Background: Specific neurophysiological profiles, such as reduced P300 amplitude or altered spectral power in the EEG, have been associated with a risk for alcoholism in several clinical populations. In certain rodent models, high versus low alcohol consumption is associated with similar neurophysiological differences. For example, alcohol‐preferring (P) rats have increased spectral power and decreased P300 amplitudes compared with alcohol‐nonpreferring (NP) rats. In the present study, the neurophysiological profiles of high‐alcohol‐drinking (HAD) and low‐alcohol‐drinking (LAD) rats were assessed (1) to determine if their electrophysiological profiles are similar to P and NP rats and (2) to examine the relationship of these neurophysiological indices to ethanol drinking. Methods: Ethanol‐naïve HAD and LAD rats were implanted with cortical and amygdalar recording electrodes. Baseline EEG and event‐related potentials (ERPs) then were assessed. Subsequently, all rats were trained to self‐administer ethanol by using a sucrose‐substitution procedure. Results: Baseline EEG and ERP (i.e., pre‐ethanol exposure) were assessed based on line (HAD versus LAD) and actual ethanol consumption (high drinkers versus low drinkers). At baseline, ethanol‐naïve HAD rats displayed significantly greater power in the cortical EEG and decreased amygdala N1 ERP amplitude compared with ethanol‐naïve LAD rats. Similar EEG and ERP profiles have been observed when P and NP rats are compared. No differences in P300 between lines were observed, but high‐drinking rats, independent of line, had significantly decreased P300 amplitude in the amygdala compared with low‐drinking rats. Conclusions: These data suggest there are some similarities in EEG and ERP profiles of P and HAD rats compared with NP and LAD rats. Furthermore, the data suggest that decreased P300 amplitude in the amygdala is associated with increased limited access ethanol drinking.