Increased Drinking During Withdrawal From Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Is Blocked by the CRF Receptor Antagonist d-Phe-CRF(12-41) Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31 (6), 939–949.
Studies in rodents have determined that intermittent exposure to alcohol vapor can increase subsequent ethanol self-administration, measured with operant and 2-bottle choice procedures.
Two key procedural factors in demonstrating increased alcohol intake are the establishment of stable alcohol self-administration before alcohol vapor exposure and the number of bouts of intermittent vapor exposure.
The present studies provide additional behavioral validation and initial pharmacological validation of this withdrawal-associated drinking procedure.
Intermittent alcohol vapor exposure significantly increased alcohol intake and produced signs of physical dependence. Initial pharmacological studies suggest that manipulation of the CRF system in the CeA can block this increased alcohol intake.
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