Buscador de Personas - SIGEVA - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Several evidences demonstrate an interaction between lead (Pb) and drugs of abuse, particularly ethanol. This study aimed to investigate the influence of perinatal low-level Pb exposure on the motivational properties of ethanol by using a two-bottle ethanol/water test and an operant oral ethanol self-administration task. Thirty-five day-old male pups perinatally exposed to 220 ppm Pb were evaluated in their ethanol intake in a free-choice limited paradigm (2 h) at increasing ethanol concentrations (2-10%). Another group of animals was trained to associate the contingency of a lever press with 10% ethanol administration under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR 1) schedule of behavior, which was increased progressively across sessions to FR2, 5, 10, and 20. The results demonstrated that Pb-exposed rats voluntarily consumed more ethanol than their respective controls. Interestingly, the amount of ethanol ingested was sufficient to induce hyperlocomotion, as assessed immediately after the last ethanol (10%) intake session. We also demonstrated that Pb-exposed animals worked harder than the controls to obtain ethanol, evidencing a “break point” at higher lever-press rates. These results are indicative of higher ethanol reinforcing properties in low-level Pb exposed rats as compared to controls.

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