Alcohol-induced changes in opioid peptide levels in adolescent rats are dependent on housing conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endogenous opioids are implicated in the mechanism of action of alcohol and alcohol affects opioids in a number of brain areas, although little is known about alcohol's effects on opioids in the adolescent brain. One concern, in particular when studying young animals, is that alcohol intake models often are based on single housing that may result in alcohol effects confounded by the lack of social interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate short- and long-term alcohol effects on opioids and the influence of housing conditions on these effects.

Methods

In the first part, opioid peptide levels were measured after one 24-hour session of single housing and 2-hour voluntary alcohol intake in adolescent and adult rats. In the second part, a model with a cage

SUBMITTER: Palm S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4312983 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature