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. 2008 Jun;42(4):277-84.
doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2008.01.011. Epub 2008 Apr 8.

Effects of alcohol and saccharin deprivations on concurrent ethanol and saccharin operant self-administration by alcohol-preferring (P) rats

Jamie E Toalston  1 , Scott M Oster, Kelly A Kuc, Tylene J Pommer, James M Murphy, Lawrence Lumeng, Richard L Bell, William J McBride, Zachary A Rodd
Affiliations

Effects of alcohol and saccharin deprivations on concurrent ethanol and saccharin operant self-administration by alcohol-preferring (P) rats

Jamie E Toalston et al. Alcohol. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Consumption of sweet solutions has been associated with a reduction in withdrawal symptoms and alcohol craving in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of ethanol and saccharin (SACC) deprivations on operant oral self-administration. Alcohol-preferring (P) rats were allowed to lever press concurrently self-administer ethanol (15% vol/vol) and SACC (0.0125% g/vol) for 8 weeks. Rats were then maintained on daily operant access (nondeprived), deprived of both fluids (2 weeks), deprived of SACC and given 2 ml of ethanol daily, or deprived of ethanol and given 2 ml of SACC daily. All groups were then given 2 weeks of daily operant access to ethanol and SACC, followed by an identical second deprivation period. P rats responded more for ethanol than SACC. All deprived groups increased responding on the ethanol lever, but not on the SACC lever. Daily consumption of 2 ml ethanol decreased the duration of the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE). Home cage access to 2 ml of SACC also decreased the ADE but to a lesser extent than access to ethanol. A second deprivation period further increased and prolonged the expression of an ADE. These results show ethanol is a more salient reinforcer than SACC. With concurrent access to ethanol and SACC, P rats do not display a saccharin deprivation effect. Depriving P rats of both ethanol and SACC had the most pronounced effect on the magnitude and duration of the ADE, suggesting that there may be some interactions between ethanol and SACC in their CNS reinforcing effects.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Depicts the mean (± SEM) lever responses for P rats concurrently self-administering 15% EtOH and 0.0125 % saccharin (SACC). The graph also depicts the effects of increasing the work requirement for EtOH (FR1 increased to FR3, and then finally FR5) while the work requirement for SAC remained constant (FR1). As indicated in the graph, P rats preferred to self-administer EtOH from the 3rd session onward, regardless of the increase in the work requirement for EtOH (all p values < 0.002).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Depicts the mean (± SEM) lever responses for P rats concurrently self-administering 15% EtOH (top) and 0.0125 % SACC (bottom) in rats maintained on self-administration (non-deprived) or following a 2 week deprivation period. Asterisks indicate that all groups are different from non-deprived and from baseline. The Plus symbol indicates that rats deprived of EtOH or EtOH and SACC responded significantly more than non-deprived rats and baseline. The Pound symbol indicates that rats deprived of EtOH and SACC responded more than all other groups and was significantly elevated compared to baseline.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Depicts the mean (± SEM) lever responses for P rats concurrently self-administering 15% EtOH (top) and 0.0125 % SACC (bottom) in rats maintained on self-administration (non-deprived) or following a 2 week deprivation period. Asterisks indicate that all groups are different from each other and all deprived groups are different from baseline. The Plus symbol indicates that rats deprived of EtOH or both EtOH and SACC were different from each other and responded significantly more than non-deprived rats and baseline. The Pound symbol indicates that rats deprived of EtOH and SACC responded more than all other groups and was significantly elevated compared to baseline. The Double Asterisks symbol indicates that rats deprived of EtOH and SACC responded significantly more than all other groups and was higher than baseline responding.
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