Dennis D Rasmussen1, Carrie L Kincaid2. 1. VISN 20 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA drasmuss@u.washington.edu. 2. VISN 20 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Abstract
AIMS: Acoustic startle response in rats is used to model sensorimotor reactivity. The aim of the study was to determine whether acoustic startle response in alcohol-naïve rats predicts subsequent increased voluntary alcohol drinking or alcohol preference. METHODS: Startle responses to 90, 95 and 100 decibel (dB) white noise stimuli presented in counterbalanced semi-randomized order were tested in alcohol-naïve young adult male Wistar rats before voluntary alcohol intake was established with an intermittent alcohol access (IAA) model. RESULTS: Startle amplitude in response to 95 or 100 dB stimuli was positively correlated with subsequent alcohol intake and alcohol preference following 3 months of IAA. Rats with high (median split) pre-IAA startle amplitude in response to 95 or 100 dB stimuli developed increased alcohol intake as well as increased alcohol preference following 3 months of IAA, relative to rats with low pre-IAA startle amplitude. CONCLUSION: Startle response to moderate acoustic stimuli can be a predictive index of vulnerability to developing increased alcohol drinking.
AIMS: Acoustic startle response in rats is used to model sensorimotor reactivity. The aim of the study was to determine whether acoustic startle response in alcohol-naïve rats predicts subsequent increased voluntary alcohol drinking or alcohol preference. METHODS:Startle responses to 90, 95 and 100 decibel (dB) white noise stimuli presented in counterbalanced semi-randomized order were tested in alcohol-naïve young adult male Wistar rats before voluntary alcohol intake was established with an intermittent alcohol access (IAA) model. RESULTS:Startle amplitude in response to 95 or 100 dB stimuli was positively correlated with subsequent alcohol intake and alcohol preference following 3 months of IAA. Rats with high (median split) pre-IAAstartle amplitude in response to 95 or 100 dB stimuli developed increased alcohol intake as well as increased alcohol preference following 3 months of IAA, relative to rats with low pre-IAAstartle amplitude. CONCLUSION:Startle response to moderate acoustic stimuli can be a predictive index of vulnerability to developing increased alcohol drinking.
Authors: J H Krystal; E Webb; C Grillon; N Cooney; L Casal; C A Morgan; S M Southwick; M Davis; D S Charney Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 1997-06 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Solal Bloch; Katherine M Holleran; Thomas L Kash; Elena M Vazey; Jennifer A Rinker; Christina L Lebonville; Krysten O'Hara; Marcelo F Lopez; Sara R Jones; Kathleen A Grant; Howard C Becker; Patrick J Mulholland Journal: Alcohol Date: 2022-02-15 Impact factor: 2.405