Robust and stable drinking behavior following long-term oral alcohol intake in rhesus macaques

Katner, Simon N.; Von Huben, Stefani N.; Davis, Sophia A.; Lay, Christopher C.; Crean, Rebecca D.; Roberts, Amanda J.; Fox, Howard S.; Taffe, Michael A.

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.06.002

« Previous Next »Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 91, Issue 2 , Pages 236-243, 1 December 2007

Robust and stable drinking behavior following long-term oral alcohol intake in rhesus macaques

Simon N. Katner
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Stefani N. Von Huben
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Sophia A. Davis
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, Mailcode SP30-2400, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Christopher C. Lay
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Rebecca D. Crean
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, Mailcode SP30-2400, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Amanda J. Roberts
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Howard S. Fox
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Michael A. Taffe
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, Mailcode SP30-2400, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 858 784 7228; fax: +1 858 784 7405.

Received 30 March 2007; received in revised form 23 May 2007; accepted 1 June 2007.

Abstract

Face validity in animal models of alcohol abuse and dependence is often at odds with robust demonstrations of ethanol-seeking. This study determined the relative influence of ethanol and a flavorant in maintaining ethanol intake in a nonhuman primate model of “cocktail” drinking. Four-year-old male monkeys were maintained on a 6% ethanol/6% Tang® solution made available in daily (M–F) 1-h sessions. Experiments determined the effect of (1) a second daily access session, (2) concurrent presentation of the Tang® vehicle, (3) sequential presentation of the vehicle in the first daily session and the ethanol solution in the second session, (4) altering the Tang® concentration, (5) altering the ethanol concentration, and (6) removal of the flavorant. Mean daily intake (2.7±0.2g/kg/day) was stable over 7 months. Simultaneous availability of a large, but not a low–moderate, volume of the vehicle reduced ethanol intake by about 50%. Decreasing the concentration of Tang® in the first daily session reduced ethanol intake, whereas intake of the standard solution was increased in the second session. Ethanol consumption was decreased by only 27% when the flavorant was removed. In summary, alterations that reduced intake in the first daily session resulted in compensatory increases in ethanol intake in the second session, suggesting that animals sought a specific level of ethanol intake per day. It is concluded that models with excellent face validity (flavored beverages) can produce reliable ethanol intake in patterns that are highly consistent with ethanol-seeking behavior.