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Development of an Oral Operant Nicotine/Ethanol Co‐Use Model in Alcohol‐Preferring ( P ) Rats
Author(s) -
Hauser Sheketha R.,
Katner Simon N.,
Deehan Gerald A.,
Ding ZhengMing,
Toalston Jamie E.,
Scott Briana J.,
Bell Richard L.,
McBride William J.,
Rodd Zachary A.
Publication year - 2012
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.1530-0277.2012.01800.x
Subject(s) - self administration , ethanol , saccharin , alcohol , nicotine , chemistry , pharmacology , stereochemistry , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry
Background Alcohol abuse is frequently associated with nicotine (Nic) use. The current experiments were conducted to establish an oral operant ethanol + Nic ( E t OH + N ic) co‐use model and to characterize some aspects of E t OH + N ic co‐use. Methods Rats were allowed to choose between E t OH alone or E t OH + N ic solutions. Additionally, alcohol‐preferring (P) rats were allowed to concurrently self‐administer 3 distinct E t OH solutions (10, 20, and 30%) with varying amounts of Nic (0.07, 0.14, or 0.21 mg/ml) under operant conditions. P rats were also allowed to concurrently self‐administer 2 distinct amounts of Nic (0.07 and 0.14 mg/ml) added to saccharin (Sacc; 0.025%) solutions. Results During acquisition, P rats responded for the E t OH + N ic solutions at the same level as for E t OH alone, and responding for E t OH + Nic solutions was present throughout all drinking conditions. P rats also readily maintained stable self‐administration behaviors for N ic + S acc solutions. The results demonstrated that P rats readily acquired and maintained stable self‐administration behaviors for E t OH + 0.07 and E t OH + 0.14 mg/ml N ic solutions. Self‐administration of E t OH + 0.21 mg/ml N ic was established in only 50% of the subjects. P rats readily expressed seeking behaviors for the E t OH + N ic solutions and reacquired E t OH + N ic self‐administration during relapse testing. In addition, tail blood samples indicated that E t OH + N ic co‐use resulted in pharmacologically relevant levels of both E t OH and N ic in the blood. Conclusions Overall, the results indicate that P rats readily consume E t OH + N ic solutions concurrently in the presence of E t OH alone, express drug‐seeking behaviors, and will concurrently consume physiologically relevant levels of both drugs. These results support the idea that this oral operant E t OH + N ic co‐use model would be suitable for studying the development of co‐abuse and the consequences of long‐term chronic co‐abuse.