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Biggio F, Talani G, Asuni GP, Bassareo V, Boi M, Dazzi L, Pisu MG, Porcu P, Sanna E, Sanna F, Serra M, Serra MP, Siddi C, Acquas E, Follesa P, Quartu M. Mixing energy drinks and alcohol during adolescence impairs brain function: A study of rat hippocampal plasticity. Neuropharmacology 2024; 254:109993. [PMID: 38735368 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
In the last decades, the consumption of energy drinks has risen dramatically, especially among young people, adolescents and athletes, driven by the constant search for ergogenic effects, such as the increase in physical and cognitive performance. In parallel, mixed consumption of energy drinks and ethanol, under a binge drinking modality, under a binge drinking modality, has similarly grown among adolescents. However, little is known whether the combined consumption of these drinks, during adolescence, may have long-term effects on central function, raising the question of the risks of this habit on brain maturation. Our study was designed to evaluate, by behavioral, electrophysiological and molecular approaches, the long-term effects on hippocampal plasticity of ethanol (EtOH), energy drinks (EDs), or alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AMED) in a rat model of binge-like drinking adolescent administration. The results show that AMED binge-like administration produces adaptive hippocampal changes at the molecular level, associated with electrophysiological and behavioral alterations, which develop during the adolescence and are still detectable in adult animals. Overall, the study indicates that binge-like drinking AMED adolescent exposure represents a habit that may affect permanently hippocampal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Biggio
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Talani
- Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council (C.N.R.), Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gino Paolo Asuni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marianna Boi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Laura Dazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Pisu
- Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council (C.N.R.), Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Porcu
- Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council (C.N.R.), Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrico Sanna
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy; Institute of Neurosciences, National Research Council (C.N.R.), Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Sanna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Pina Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carlotta Siddi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elio Acquas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Follesa
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Marina Quartu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Valsecchi V, Errico F, Bassareo V, Marino C, Nuzzo T, Brancaccio P, Laudati G, Casamassa A, Grimaldi M, D'Amico A, Carta M, Bertini E, Pignataro G, D'Ursi AM, Usiello A. SMN deficiency perturbs monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism in spinal muscular atrophy. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1155. [PMID: 37957344 PMCID: PMC10643621 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05543-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond motor neuron degeneration, homozygous mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene cause multiorgan and metabolic defects in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). However, the precise biochemical features of these alterations and the age of onset in the brain and peripheral organs remain unclear. Using untargeted NMR-based metabolomics in SMA mice, we identify cerebral and hepatic abnormalities related to energy homeostasis pathways and amino acid metabolism, emerging already at postnatal day 3 (P3) in the liver. Through HPLC, we find that SMN deficiency induces a drop in cerebral norepinephrine levels in overt symptomatic SMA mice at P11, affecting the mRNA and protein expression of key genes regulating monoamine metabolism, including aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DβH) and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). In support of the translational value of our preclinical observations, we also discovered that SMN upregulation increases cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine concentration in Nusinersen-treated SMA1 patients. Our findings highlight a previously unrecognized harmful influence of low SMN levels on the expression of critical enzymes involved in monoamine metabolism, suggesting that SMN-inducing therapies may modulate catecholamine neurotransmission. These results may also be relevant for setting therapeutic approaches to counteract peripheral metabolic defects in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Valsecchi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Errico
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80055, Portici, Italy
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Carmen Marino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Tommaso Nuzzo
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Paola Brancaccio
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Giusy Laudati
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Grimaldi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Adele D'Amico
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00163, Rome, Italy
| | - Manolo Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, 00163, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pignataro
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria D'Ursi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, 80145, Naples, Italy.
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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Maccioni P, Kaczanowska K, Lobina C, Regonini Somenzi L, Bassareo V, Gessa GL, Lawrence HR, McDonald P, Colombo G. Delving into the reducing effects of the GABA B positive allosteric modulator, KK-92A, on alcohol-related behaviors in rats. Alcohol 2023; 112:61-70. [PMID: 37495087 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAB receptor (GABAB PAM), KK-92A, to suppress operant alcohol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol seeking in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. The present study was designed to scrutinize the suppressing effects of KK-92A on alcohol-related behaviors; to this end, four separate experiments were conducted to address just as many new research questions, some of which bear translational value. Experiment 1 found that 7-day treatment with KK-92A (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) effectively reduced alcohol intake in male sP rats exposed to the home-cage 2-bottle "alcohol (10% v/v) vs. water" choice regimen with 1 hour/day limited access, extending to excessive alcohol drinking the ability of KK-92A to suppress operant alcohol self-administration. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the ability of KK-92A to reduce lever-responding for alcohol was maintained also after acute, intragastric treatment (0, 20, and 40 mg/kg) in female sP rats trained to lever-respond for 15% (v/v) alcohol under the fixed ratio 5 schedule of reinforcement. In Experiment 3, acutely administered KK-92A (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) dampened alcohol-seeking behavior in female sP rats exposed to a single session under the extinction responding schedule. Experiment 4 used a taste reactivity test to demonstrate that acute treatment with KK-92A (0 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) did not alter either hedonic or aversive reactions to a 15% (v/v) alcohol solution in male sP rats, ruling out that KK-92A-induced reduction of alcohol drinking and self-administration could be due to alterations in alcohol palatability. Together, these results enhance the behavioral pharmacological profile of KK-92A and further strengthen the notion that GABAB PAMs may represent a novel class of ligands with therapeutic potential for treating alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maccioni
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Carla Lobina
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Laura Regonini Somenzi
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Gessa
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | | | - Patricia McDonald
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, United States
| | - Giancarlo Colombo
- Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, Monserrato (CA), Italy.
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Serra M, Di Maio A, Bassareo V, Nuzzo T, Errico F, Servillo F, Capasso M, Parekh P, Li Q, Thiolat ML, Bezard E, Calabresi P, Sulzer D, Carta M, Morelli M, Usiello A. Perturbation of serine enantiomers homeostasis in the striatum of MPTP-lesioned monkeys and mice reflects the extent of dopaminergic midbrain degeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106226. [PMID: 37451474 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of dopaminergic midbrain neurons perturbs l-serine and d-serine homeostasis in the post-mortem caudate putamen (CPu) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, it is unclear whether the severity of dopaminergic nigrostriatal degeneration plays a role in deregulating serine enantiomers' metabolism. Here, through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we measured the levels of these amino acids in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys and MPTP-plus-probenecid (MPTPp)-treated mice to determine whether and how dopaminergic midbrain degeneration affects the levels of serine enantiomers in various basal ganglia subregions. In addition, in the same brain regions, we measured the levels of key neuroactive amino acids modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission, including L-glutamate, glycine, l-aspartate, d-aspartate, and their precursors l-glutamine, L-asparagine. In monkeys, MPTP treatment produced severe denervation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic fibers (⁓75%) and increased the levels of serine enantiomers in the rostral putamen (rPut), but not in the subthalamic nucleus, and the lateral and medial portion of the globus pallidus. Moreover, this neurotoxin significantly reduced the protein expression of the astrocytic serine transporter ASCT1 and the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH in the rPut of monkeys. Conversely, concentrations of d-serine and l-serine, as well as ASCT1 and GAPDH expression were unaffected in the striatum of MPTPp-treated mice, which showed only mild dopaminergic degeneration (⁓30%). These findings unveil a link between the severity of dopaminergic nigrostriatal degeneration and striatal serine enantiomers concentration, ASCT1 and GAPDH expression. We hypothesize that the up-regulation of d-serine and l-serine levels occurs as a secondary response within a homeostatic loop to support the metabolic and neurotransmission demands imposed by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Anna Di Maio
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Tommaso Nuzzo
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Errico
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Servillo
- Department of Neuroscience, Cattolica Sacro Cuore University, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Capasso
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini, 5, Napoli 80131, Italy
| | - Pathik Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Qin Li
- Motac Neuroscience, UKM15 6WE, Manchester, United Kingdom; Institute of Lab Animal Sciences, China Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Marie-Laure Thiolat
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5293, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France
| | - Erwan Bezard
- Motac Neuroscience, UKM15 6WE, Manchester, United Kingdom; Institute of Lab Animal Sciences, China Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5293, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Department of Neuroscience, Cattolica Sacro Cuore University, Rome, Italy; Neurologia, Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - David Sulzer
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Manolo Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Micaela Morelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy; National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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Acquas E, Dazzi L, Correa M, Salamone JD, Bassareo V. Editorial: Alcohol and energy drinks: is this a really good mix? Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1213723. [PMID: 37324521 PMCID: PMC10266584 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1213723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elio Acquas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Laura Dazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mercè Correa
- Department of Psychobiology, University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - John D. Salamone
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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Cadoni C, Peana AT. Energy drinks at adolescence: Awareness or unawareness? Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1080963. [PMID: 36891321 PMCID: PMC9986288 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1080963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy drinks (EDs) are beverages similar to soft drinks, characterized by high caffeine concentrations with additional ingredients like taurine and vitamins, marketed for boosting energy, reducing tiredness, increasing concentration, and for their ergogenic effect. The majority of consumers are children, adolescents, and young athletes. Although EDs companies claim about the ergogenic and remineralizing properties of their products, there is a serious lack of evidence at preclinical as well as clinical level to validate their benefits. The regular intake and long-term consequences of these caffeinated drinks are not well documented, especially the possible negative effects in adolescents whose brain is still developing. EDs combined with alcohol are also gaining popularity among adolescents and different publications indicate that this combined consumption might increase the risk to develop an alcohol use disorder, as well as produce serious adverse cardiovascular effects. There is an increasing need to disseminate knowledge on EDs damage on health, so that adolescents can be aware about the potential harmful outcomes of consuming these drinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cadoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council of Italy, Cagliari, Italy
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Williams KL, Parikh UK, Doyle SM, Meyer LN. Effect of intermittent access to alcohol mixed in energy drink during adolescence on alcohol self-administration, anxiety, and memory during adulthood in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1423-1432. [PMID: 35778776 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixing alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks is a common practice among young people. Consumption of alcohol mixed in energy drink is associated with increased risk of binge drinking and alcohol dependence. The purpose of this study was to determine whether voluntary intermittent access to alcohol mixed in energy drink in adolescent rats alters adult self-administration of alcohol, anxiety, and memory. METHODS For 10 weeks in the home-cage, two groups of adolescent female Sprague-Dawley rats had intermittent access to energy drink (ED) or 10% alcohol mixed in energy drink (AmED) with water concurrently available. Other rat groups had daily continuous access to ED or AmED. Anxiety was measured with an open field test and memory was assessed with a novel place recognition test. For self-administration, rats pressed levers for 10% alcohol alone on a fixed ratio (FR1) and on a progressive ratio (PR). RESULTS Intermittent access to AmED generated greater intake during the initial 30 min of access (AmED 1.70 ± 0.04 g/kg vs. ED 1.01 ± 0.06 g/kg) and during the subsequent 24 h (AmED 7.04 ± 0.25 g/kg vs. ED 5.60 ± 0.29 g/kg). Intermittent AmED caused a significant but small decrease in anxiety while neither ED nor AmED altered memory. During alcohol self-administration, group differences emerged only during PR testing during which intermittent AmED rats responded more than all other groups. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that intermittent access to AmED generates binge-like consumption that supports human findings that AmED generates greater alcohol consumption. Furthermore, experience with AmED may alter the motivational properties of alcohol into adulthood without necessarily causing a major impact on anxiety or memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith L Williams
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Urja K Parikh
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Shannon M Doyle
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Lindsey N Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
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