Predator odor stress produces sex- and subpopulation-specific increases in alcohol drinking, anxiety-like behavior, and lateral hypothalamic <i>crh</i> expression.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic stress leads to maladaptive avoidance behaviors and alcohol misuse in some people. In rats, predator odor ("traumatic") stress produces persistent avoidance of stress-paired contexts and escalated alcohol self-administration in some animals (Avoiders), but not others (Non-Avoiders). This mirrors the individual differences in stress responsivity and alcohol misuse seen in humans. Here, we used a quinine-adulterated alcohol drinking procedure to model compulsive-like alcohol drinking in humans. Male and female Wistar rats were given 12 weeks of intermittent access to 20% (v/v) alcohol, followed by three weeks of limited access. Rats were then indexed for avoidance using predator odor stress exposure, and limited access drinking resumed for three additional weeks after stress. Durin

SUBMITTER: Bonauto SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11957151 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature