EFFECTS OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF ETHANOL OR ACELTADEHYDE UPON LATER ETHANOL INTAKE IN NEONATAL RATS

D'ALOISIO, G 1; MOLINA, JUAN C. 1 2; ACEVEDO, M. B. 1; HAYMAL, O. B.1

Puerto Varas

Congreso; VIII LASBRA INTERNATIONAL MEETING: ?Neurobiological basis of alcoholism: from molecules to behavior? A Satellite of the Annual meeting of the Sociedad de Farmacología de Chile (SOFARCHI); 2017

Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)

Intracisternal administration of ethanol or acetaldehyde in neonatal rats exert positive reinforcing effects; a phenomenon revealed by appetitive responsiveness to a conditioned stimulus that signals the effects of these drugs Interestingly, pre-exposure to ethanol or acetaldehyde later inhibits operant behaviors reinforced with an ethanol solution. In this study we analyzed whether central administrations of ethanol or acetaldehyde affect ethanol consumption following pairings of these drugs with the scent of alcohol. The study also analyzed if the state of central intoxication modulates ethanol ingestion. During postnatal days 2 and 4, Wistar pups were intracisternally administered with a buffer solution, ethanol (100 mg%) or acetaldehyde (0.35 or 0.52 µM). At postnatal day 6, ethanol intake was evaluated via an intraoral infusion procedure. Pups were either sober or under the central effects of the drug previously experienced. Motor activity was not affected by the state of central intoxication. Ethanol pre-exposed pups tested while intoxicated showed heightened ethanol preference as evidenced by body weight gains and latency to drip the solution. Pups pre-exposed to ethanol but tested under the effects of a buffer solution clearly rejected ethanol. The higher dose of acetaldehyde (0.52 µM) partially inhibited ethanol intake. The results indicate that central ethanol, but not acetaldehyde, acts as a positive interoceptive context favoring ethanol intake. The absence of this context in pups also pre-exposed to ethanol, appears to generate a negative emotional reaction that inhibits ethanol acceptance; a phenomenon comparable to a successive negative contrast effect.