TY - JOUR
T1 - Sugar-dependent rats show enhanced intake of unsweetened ethanol
AU - Avena, Nicole M.
AU - Carrillo, Carmen A.
AU - Needham, Lance
AU - Leibowitz, Sarah F.
AU - Hoebel, Bartley G.
N1 - Funding Information:
The current study was supported by grants AA-12882, MH-65024, and DA-016458 (fellowship to N.M.A.) from the USPHS and the Minnie and Bernard Lane Foundation. We also express our appreciation to Wyeth, Inc. The basis for this work was presented as a poster (Program No. 572.13) at the Society for Neuroscience 34th Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, October 23–27, 2004. The abstract can be accessed through the 2004 SFN Online Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: http://sfn.scholarone.com/itin2004 .
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Rats show signs of dependence on sugar when it is available intermittently, including bingeing, withdrawal, and cross-sensitization with amphetamine. In the current study, we sought to determine whether sugar-dependent rats would show increased intake of unsweetened ethanol and, conversely, whether intermittent access to ethanol would augment sugar consumption. In Experiment 1, with intermittent versus ad libitum access to ethanol, Sprague-Dawley rats were given escalating concentrations of ethanol (1%, 2%, 4%, 7%, and 9%) over the course of 20 days. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group, with 12-h daily access, consumed more 4%, 7%, and 9% ethanol during the first hour of access, and more 9% ethanol daily, than did rats in the ad libitum ethanol access group. In Experiment 2, with ethanol as a gateway to sugar intake, the rats from Experiment 1 were switched to 10% sucrose with 12-h daily access for 1 week. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group consumed significantly more sugar than was consumed by rats in a control group with no prior ethanol experience. In Experiment 3, with sugar as a gateway to ethanol to determine whether sugar dependence leads to increased ethanol intake, four groups were maintained for 21 days according to the following designations: intermittent access to sugar and chow, ad libitum access to sugar and chow, intermittent access to chow, or ad libitum access to chow. Four days later, all groups were switched to intermittent ethanol access, as described in Experiment 1. The group with intermittent access to sugar and chow consumed the most 9% ethanol, supporting the suggestion that sugar dependence alters a rat's proclivity to drink ethanol. These results may relate to the co-morbidity between binge-eating disorders and alcohol intake and the tendency of people abstaining from alcohol to consume excessive amounts of sugar. In conclusion, bingeing on either ethanol or sugar fosters intake of the other.
AB - Rats show signs of dependence on sugar when it is available intermittently, including bingeing, withdrawal, and cross-sensitization with amphetamine. In the current study, we sought to determine whether sugar-dependent rats would show increased intake of unsweetened ethanol and, conversely, whether intermittent access to ethanol would augment sugar consumption. In Experiment 1, with intermittent versus ad libitum access to ethanol, Sprague-Dawley rats were given escalating concentrations of ethanol (1%, 2%, 4%, 7%, and 9%) over the course of 20 days. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group, with 12-h daily access, consumed more 4%, 7%, and 9% ethanol during the first hour of access, and more 9% ethanol daily, than did rats in the ad libitum ethanol access group. In Experiment 2, with ethanol as a gateway to sugar intake, the rats from Experiment 1 were switched to 10% sucrose with 12-h daily access for 1 week. Rats in the intermittent ethanol access group consumed significantly more sugar than was consumed by rats in a control group with no prior ethanol experience. In Experiment 3, with sugar as a gateway to ethanol to determine whether sugar dependence leads to increased ethanol intake, four groups were maintained for 21 days according to the following designations: intermittent access to sugar and chow, ad libitum access to sugar and chow, intermittent access to chow, or ad libitum access to chow. Four days later, all groups were switched to intermittent ethanol access, as described in Experiment 1. The group with intermittent access to sugar and chow consumed the most 9% ethanol, supporting the suggestion that sugar dependence alters a rat's proclivity to drink ethanol. These results may relate to the co-morbidity between binge-eating disorders and alcohol intake and the tendency of people abstaining from alcohol to consume excessive amounts of sugar. In conclusion, bingeing on either ethanol or sugar fosters intake of the other.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Binge-eating
KW - Bulimia nervosa
KW - Cross-sensitization
KW - Sucrose
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10844250795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.09.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 15902914
AN - SCOPUS:10844250795
SN - 0741-8329
VL - 34
SP - 203
EP - 209
JO - Alcohol
JF - Alcohol
IS - 2-3
ER -