The persistent effects of predator odor stressor enhance interoceptive sensitivity to alcohol through GABA_A receptor adaptations in the prelimbic cortex in male, but not female rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traumatic stress is associated with high rates of problematic alcohol use, but how the persistent effects of trauma impact sensitivity to alcohol remain unknown. This study examined the persistent effects of traumatic stress exposure on sensitivity to alcohol and underlying neurobiological mechanisms in rats.

Methods

Male (N=98) and female (N=98) Long-Evans rats were exposed to the predator odor TMT, and two weeks later, molecular, neuronal, and behavioral sensitivity to alcohol were assessed. Next, rats were trained to discriminate alcohol from water (male N=70; female N=56), and the impact of TMT on interoceptive sensitivity to alcohol and the alcohol-like effects of systemic GABA_A receptor activation were evaluated. Lastly, functional involvement of

SUBMITTER: Tyler RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11565848 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature