Chronic footshock, but not a physiological stressor, suppresses the alcohol deprivation effect in dependent rats

Abstract

Aims: Unlike in humans, the link between chronic stress and increased alcohol consumption in laboratory animals is equivocal. Two factors may contribute to this: a lack of studies examining the effects of stress on consumption in dependent rats and differences in the nature of the stressor. Moreover, to our knowledge, the effects of different types of stress on the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), the temporary increase in alcohol consumption seen after periods of abstinence, has not been previously examined. Methods: In the present study, dependent rats previously trained to self-administer alcohol, received either no stress, chronic daily intermittent footshock (10 min/day for 7 days) or daily (for 7 days) injections of lipopolysaccharide, a physiological stressor. Alcohol-reinforced responding was then measured for 20 days. Results: Only control animals and those treated with LPS exhibited an alcohol deprivation effect and increased consumption. Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggest that chronic footshock may not be an appropriate paradigm to study the impact of stress on alcohol consumption. © Medical Council on Alcohol 2004; all rights reserved.