Reproductive state modulates ethanol intake in rats: Effects of ovariectomy, ethanol concentration, estrous cycle and pregnancy

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(82)90087-9Get rights and content

Abstract

Intact adult female rats had a greater preference for a 4% (v/v) ethanol solution than ovariectomized (OVX) rats in a two-tube preference situation. This preference difference was not particular to the 4% concentration, but was exhibited for solutions ranging from 1–9% ethanol. OVX animals reached peak preference at weaker ethanol concentrations than did control animals, while the volume of absolute ethanol consumed by each group was highly dependent on the concentration of ethanol offered. OVX, but not intact, rats showed a strong positive correlation between alcohol preference and preference for a saccharine solution. Pregnant and lactating rats exhibited depressed preference for 4% ethanol. Preference returned to control levels following weaning. Ethanol intake and preference varied systematically over the four-day estrous cycle, being lowest on the day of proestrus.

References (24)

  • R.H. Elton et al.

    Changes in ethanol consumption by pregnant pigtailed macaques

    J. Stud. Alcohol

    (1977)
  • G.A. Emerson et al.

    Species variation in preference for alcohol and in effects of diet or drugs on this preference

    J. Pharmac. exp. Ther.

    (1952)
  • Cited by (43)

    • Operant, oral alcohol self-administration: Sex differences in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats

      2019, Alcohol
      Citation Excerpt :

      The pattern of daily alcohol drinking over the 10-day free choice period of ovariectomized sP rats was virtually superimposable to that of male sP rats, confirming that ovariectomy may “defeminize” multiple drug-related behavioral responses, including alcohol drinking (see Becker & Koob, 2016). Mean daily alcohol drinking was steadily lower in ovariectomized than intact female sP rats, extending to female sP rats previous data on depletion of circulating ovarian hormones reducing alcohol drinking in rats (Forger & Morin, 1982; Torres, Walker, Beas, & O'Dell, 2014; however, see also; Almeida et al., 1998; Cailhol & Mormède, 2001; Ford, Eldridge, & Samson, 2002; for review, see; Becker & Koob, 2016; Hilderbrand & Lasek, 2018). In agreement with these literature data, chronic replacement treatment with estradiol dose-dependently increased alcohol intake in ovariectomized female Long-Evans rats exposed to the 2-bottle “alcohol vs. water” choice regimen (Ford, Eldridge, & Samson, 2004; Ford et al., 2002).

    • Gonadal hormones affect alcohol drinking, but not cue + yohimbine-induced alcohol seeking, in male and female rats

      2019, Physiology and Behavior
      Citation Excerpt :

      Postpubertal gonadectomy, which seeks to eliminate the activational effects of gonadal hormones, has been shown to slightly reduce [33], increase [31,32], or have no effect [54] on drinking in males; these same studies showed either slight trends (though confounded by several factors) for reductions in [33,54] or no effect [31] of drinking in females. Still other studies in females have shown OVX to significantly reduce ethanol intake [27,29,55,56]. Similar findings are evident when animals are gonadectomized prepubertally, with increased drinking in CAST males [31,32,57], and either decreased [57] or unaffected [31] drinking in OVX females, indicating that prepubertal organizational effects of hormones are likely responsible for these outcomes.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    1

    Submitted as part of an Honors Thesis in Psychology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.

    View full text