Withdrawal symptoms in a long-term model of voluntary alcohol drinking in Wistar rats

Long-term voluntary alcohol drinking with repeated alcohol deprivation epis odes has been suggested as animal model for some aspects of alcoholism. Usi ng a radiotelemetric system, the present study investigated the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms in long-term voluntarily alcohol drinking Wistar rat s with (repeated alcohol deprivation group) and without (first alcohol depr ivation group) prior alcohol deprivation experience. Six days after transmi tter implantation, alcohol bottles were removed, and returned 4 days later. Alcohol deprivation induced hyperlocomotion in both groups. In the repeate d alcohol deprivation group, hyperlocomotion was increased at the beginning of the alcohol deprivation phase and decreased during the following dark p hase, suggesting that removal of the alcohol bottles might have become a co nditioned withdrawal stimulus for this group. Both groups showed an enhance d alcohol intake after representation of alcohol bottles compared to preabs tinence intakes (alcohol deprivation effect). However, alcohol intake of th e repeated alcohol deprivation group was significantly increased compared t o the first alcohol deprivation group at the end of the experiment. It is c oncluded that repeated alcohol deprivation experience might promote the dev elopment of alcohol addiction because of its latent stimulating effect on a lcohol drinking that can be unveiled by (presumably mildly stressful) exper imental situations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.