INIMEC - CONICET   05467
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION MEDICA MERCEDES Y MARTIN FERREYRA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Ethanol-mediated flavor conditioned preference utilizing a voluntary and intermittent consumption schedule in adolescent rats.
Autor/es:
ORELLANA E; GONZALEZ F; LESTA LG; ABATE P
Lugar:
Huerta Grande, Córdoba
Reunión:
Congreso; XVII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias; 2012
Institución organizadora:
Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias
Resumen:
We aimed to develop a conditioned flavor preference paradigm mediated by ethanol. We paired a flavor with ethanol (5% v/v) employing a voluntary and intermittent consumption schedule. Adolescent male Wistar rats (PD28) remained with free access to food and water during training. At the moment of preference test, animals were water deprived for 20 hours. Subjects were exposed to Almond or Banana, sweetened with saccharin on alternate days. One flavor was presented with ethanol (CS+), while the other one was presented in absence of the drug (CS-), flavors acting as CSs counterbalanced. Across 40 days of conditioning, consumption levels and preference for the CS+Ethanol solution (in comparison with water intake) were significantly higher than those of the CS-. However, the preference for the CS+ over the CS- was not evident during the test. When data were analyzed in terms of sequence of flavor presentations, we observed a nearly significant higher consumption of Banana acting as CS+ (signaling ethanol) than when this flavor acted as CS-. For Almond this trend was not evident. Even when more studies are needed, these results suggest that ethanol may act as a positive reinforcer, allowing a conditioned flavor preference.