A new model of ethanol self-administration in newborn rats: gender effects on ethanol ingestion through a surrogate nipple.

BACKGROUND

Ethanol intake in the context of suckling may have distinct and potentially long-lasting consequences for further responsiveness to and acceptance of ethanol, compared to other, more indirect and less natural ways of ethanol exposure early in ontogeny.

METHOD

Our findings presented in this paper show that a surrogate nipple technique can be used for the study of early ethanol intake in cesarean-derived rat pups tested before any suckling experience.

RESULTS

Neonatal rats attached to and voluntary ingested ethanol through the surrogate nipple as early as 4 hr after birth. Moderate concentrations of ethanol (2% and 5%, v/v) promoted substantial initial suckling behavior, including sustained attachment to the nipple. Higher concentrations (10% and 15%) were not effective in sustaining suckling. Females responded less positively to 10% ethanol than did males. High concentrations of ethanol were less effective in eliciting suckling behavior, probably due to the aversiveness of ethanol odor. However, when ethanol was presented in solution with milk, newborn pups attached to the nipple and ingested even 15% ethanol. Contamination of milk with 15% ethanol was more aversive for females than for males. Newborn rat pups demonstrated similar patterns of nipple attachment and ingestive behavior for 5% ethanol and milk. Initial experience with milk in the context of suckling did not prevent further voluntary ethanol ingestion from the same nipple; furthermore, initial exposure to 5% ethanol did not impair subsequent responsiveness to milk.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender differences in responsiveness or sensitivity to ethanol can be detected in rat pups as early as a few hours after birth. The results suggest a leftward shift in the dose-response curve for females compared with males, indicating that female neonates are more sensitive or more responsive than males to ethanol. The similarity of suckling behaviors produced by moderate concentrations of ethanol and milk suggests a certain unity in their reinforcing mechanisms in the context of the first suckling episode.