Long-term alcohol self-administration with repeated alcohol deprivation phases: An animal model of alcoholism?

In order to study the neurobiological and molecular mechanisms of alcohol d ependence and addiction, appropriate animal models are warranted. Although animal models cannot incorporate all aspects and criteria of an addictive b ehaviour to alcohol seen in human alcoholics, they can at least reflect som e of the criteria given in the fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Associatio n (1994). Novel aspects of addictive behaviour to alcohol, craving and rela pse might be uncovered by animal models of long-term, free-choice, alcohol self-administration followed by alcohol deprivation phases. After several m onths of voluntary alcohol consumption, the drug-taking behaviour following a deprivation (withdrawal) phase is characterized by increased alcohol int ake and preference (alcohol deprivation effect) and changes in alcohol inta ke patterns where animals consume large amounts of highly concentrated alco hol solutions even at inappropriate times (e.g, during the inactive light p hase when drinking activity is minimal). Altogether, alcohol drinking follo wing alcohol deprivation seems to become uncontrolled and inelastic, reflec ting an incentive demand far the drug in such a model. Furthermore, the alc ohol deprivation effect outlasts very long abstinence phases, which indicat es the persistence of a drug memory for alcohol.