Effects of Sex and Ethanol on Approach-Avoidance Conflict Resolution: Including Female Subjects in a Preclinical Model of Alcohol Use Disorder
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Preclinical research into alcohol use disorder (AUD) has advanced rapidly over the past decade with the popularization of the intermittent access two-bottle choice drinking paradigm. A major gap in the current literature stems from the widespread failure to incorporate female subjects into preclinical AUD models. Evidence suggests that females actually progress to abuse faster than males and suffer worse from negative health consequences associated with excessive ethanol intake. The current study utilized Long-Evans rats of both sexes to explore approach-avoidance conflict resolution and a potential preclinical AUD model. Female versus male and ethanol-exposed versus ethanol-naïve rats displayed reduced approach of conflict. Females self-administered higher levels of ethanol than males. In subsequent challenges, high-drinking animals compared to moderate- and low- drinking animals reached higher breakpoints on a progressive ratio test, but showed neither higher levels of ethanol seeking during extinction, nor increased resistance to footshock punishment paired with the ethanol reward.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Tanner A. McNamara
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3217056229