Inescapable exposure to the Barnes maze increases preference for alcohol over water in rats: Implications for depression and anxiety

摘要: Abstract Various sources of stress induce alcohol intake in rodents, including inescapable shocks, physical restraint, and reward loss. One hypothesis maintains that increases because its anxiolytic properties reduce negative emotion. A series experiments explored this using escapable vs. exposure to the well-lit circular platform a Barnes maze master/yoked (M/Y) design, with pairs rats matched amount time on lighted platform, but differing terms presence absence an escape box. In Experiment 1 M/Y design was validated as means producing rapid acquisition behavior master animals. 2, immediate postsession access 2-h, 2-bottle preference test 8 % water resulted higher increase for over across sessions yoked animals compared Group differences were not observed when had both bottles. Higher also separated by 1-h interval (Experiment 3). However, voluntary consumption similar order fluid reversed 4) or threat level reduced dim light 5). Increased after is consistent alleviates mood anxiety induced threat. This animal model relevant understanding initial stages co-morbidity between depression, anxiety, use.