Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
6-6-2024
Year of Publication
2023
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Psychology
Advisor
Dr. Michael Bardo
Abstract
Alcohol use often begins in adolescence and can lead to increased susceptibility to AUD in adulthood. Stress in the form of social isolation during adolescence can also prompt substance use disorders later in adulthood. This thesis determined if exposure to ethanol (EtOH) during adolescence and social isolation alters the trajectory of alcohol and nicotine intake during adulthood. In Experiment 1, adolescent male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered intermittent injections of EtOH (2g/kg 20% EtOH, IP) or saline (PND 28-41). EtOH consumption was measured in adulthood (PND 49-55) using a 2-bottle choice procedure where one bottle contained a 0.2% saccharin/15% EtOH (Sacc/EtOH) solution, and the other water. Rats were then trained to self-administer nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) with Sacc/EtOH and water concurrently available under an incremental fixed ratio (FR) schedule for nicotine (PND 66-101). In Experiment 2, group and isolate housed male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0.2% saccharin/ 20% EtOH (Sacc/EtOH) using an intermittent 24-hour 2-bottle choice during adolescence (PND 28-61); control rats received water only. In adulthood, rats underwent 2-bottle choice sessions (PND 73-86), then were trained to self-administer nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion) with Sacc/EtOH and water concurrently available under an incremental FR schedule for nicotine (PND 98-137). In Experiment 1, IP injections of EtOH in adolescence reduced adult Sacc/EtOH intake in male rats. In Experiment 2, isolation in adolescence increased adolescent intake for Sacc/EtOH, although this trend did not continue to adulthood as the combined effects of isolation and EtOH exposure in adolescence did not increase adult EtOH intake. In Experiments 1 and 2, a substitutional relationship between Sacc/EtOH and nicotine was observed. Overall, this thesis provides evidence that although social isolation may increase EtOH intake in adolescence, adolescent exposure to EtOH reduces intake in adulthood.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2023.019
Funding Information
This study was supported by the National Institute of Health R01: AA025591 in 2020 and the Robert Lipman Fellowship in 2021.
Recommended Citation
Shaykin, Jakob, "Effects of Social Isolation and Adolescent Ethanol Exposure on Adult Drinking and Nicotine Co-Use" (2023). Theses and Dissertations--Psychology. 226.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/226
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons
