Induction of high voluntary ethanol intake in dependent rats.

The experimental conditions under which oral high intake may be induced in previously intoxicated rats have been investigated. Seventeen rats were administered intragastrically with 10 g/kg/day of ethanol for 15 days. At cessation of treatment, they were presented a single bottle of alcoholic solution (10% v/v) during 24 hr. For the following 6 days, they received either an ethyl alcohol solution or water in alternation for 8 hours each. Ethanol treated rats exhibited a high oral intake of ethanol equivalent to the previously injected doses. Controls displayed a significantly lower intake of ethanol. It is concluded that the suppression of the withdrawal state by an initial priming oral intake of ethanol in physically dependent rats is a condition for the development of a conditioned taste preference for ethanol as a basis for the behavioral dependence.