Development of short-lasting alcohol deprivation effect in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats

Alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), defined as a temporary increase in volunt ary alcohol intake following a period of alcohol abstinence, was evaluated in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Alcohol was ini tially offered in free choice with water for 35 consecutive days (predepriv ation phase). Subsequently, one group of rats was deprived of alcohol for 1 , 3, 7, 15, 30, 90 or 180 consecutive days, while the second group had cont inuous access to alcohol (deprivation phase). Once alcohol was re-presented , alcohol intake in alcohol-deprived rats was recorded 1 and 24 h after alc ohol re-presentation and compared to that monitored in alcohol-nondeprived rats over the same time periods (postdeprivation phase). Alcohol deprivatio n for 3 to 30 days resulted in a significant increase in voluntary alcohol intake only in the first hour of re-access. These results demonstrate the d evelopment of ADE in sP rats. However, the rapid return of alcohol intake t o control levels is discussed as evidence in favor of a set-point mechanism capable of regulating alcohol-drinking behavior in sP rats. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Inc. All rights reserved.