Fig 1.
A. Establishment of an intermittent access two-bottle choice (IA2BC) model of voluntary alcohol consumption in adult male and female SD rats. Rats were provided access to 20% ethanol in tap water or water on Mon, Wed and Fri. Water was provided in both bottles on opposing days. This model was continued for 11 weeks (in males) and for 9 weeks (females), followed by 1 week of vehicle/dFBr injections. B. Ethanol drinking established in males (experiment 1+2, n = 23) is shown C. Ethanol drinking established in females (Experiment 2, n = 12) is shown. ** p<0.01, ***p< 0.0001 as compared to Week 1 drinking levels. D. Vehicle-treated male SD rats consumed significantly higher amount of ethanol (g/kg) as compared to vehicle-treated female rats (Experiment 2, n = 8 males/group, n = 12 females/group). E. Vehicle-treated male SD rats showed a higher preference for ethanol as compared to vehicle-treated female rats (Experiment 2, n = 8 males/group, n = 12 females/group). Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M. * p<0.05, ****p< 0.0001 compared to vehicle treatment group.
Fig 2.
A shows the week of vehicle/dFBr injections dFBr in the IA2BC timeline followed by 1 week post-treatment washout period.
dFBr significantly decreases ethanol consumption and preference for ethanol. Average drinking values/week are expressed as mean ethanol consumed (g/kg) ± S.E.M. dFBr (1 and 3 mg/kg s.c) or vehicle was administered 30 minutes prior to presentation of alcohol and water bottles via a total of 3 doses on Mon, Wed and Fri. B. dFBr significantly decreases voluntary 20% ethanol consumption at the 4 hr time-point in male SD rats, n = 8/group. C. dFBr significantly decreases voluntary 20% ethanol consumption at the 24 hr time-point in male SD rats (n = 23/group, Experiment 1+2). D. dFBr significantly decreases preference for ethanol at the 24 hr time-point in male SD rats (n = 23/group, Experiment 1+2). E. dFBr significantly decreases voluntary 20% ethanol consumption at the 4 hr time-point in female SD rats (n = 12/group). F. dFBr significantly decreases voluntary 20% ethanol consumption at the 24 hr time-point in female SD rats (n = 12/group). G. dFBr significantly decreases preference for ethanol at the 24 hour timepoint in female SD rats (n = 12/group). * p<0.05,**p<0.01, ****p<0.0001 compared to vehicle treatment group.
Table 1.
Effects of vehicle/dFBr treatment on water and ethanol intake at 4 hr and 24 h time-point post injection in male and female SD rats consuming 20% ethanol in the IA2BC model.
Fig 3.
A: The distance traveled in an open-field arena was measured to test locomotor activity after injection of vehicle, 2 g/kg ethanol (EtOH), 3 or 6 mg/kg dFBr and 3 or 6 mg/kg dFBr+ 2 g/kg EtOH. n = 10–15 SD rats. 2g/kg EtOH significantly decreases locomotion in SD rats, while dFBr alone does not affect locomotion significantly in comparison to vehicle-treated rats. Pretreatment with dFBr does not alter the ethanol- induced decrease in locomotion. Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M. * p<0.05 compared to the vehicle treated group, n = 10 to 15/ treatment group. B. dFBr (1 and 3 mg/kg, 3 doses on Mon, Wed and Fri of Week 12) does not change sucrose consumption at the 24-hr time-point as compared to vehicle treated group, n = 8 rats/treatment group C. dFBr (1 and 3 mg/kg, 3 doses on Mon, Wed and Fri of Week 12) does not change % sucrose preference at the 24-hr time-point as compared to the vehicle treated group, n = 8 rats/treatment group.