Individual differences in social play behaviour predict alcohol intake and control over alcohol seeking in rats

E. J. Marijke Achterberg,Stephen M. Siviy,Louk J. M. J. Vanderschuren,Heidi M. B. Lesscher

doi:10.1007/s00213-021-05929-1

E. J. Marijke Achterberg, Stephen M. Siviy + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-05929-1

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Journal: Psychopharmacology	Publication Date: Aug 2, 2021
Citations: 13	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Utrecht University, Gettysburg College

Abstract

RationaleSocial play behaviour is a rewarding social activity displayed by young mammals, thought to be important for the development of brain and behaviour. Indeed, disruptions of social play behaviour in rodents have been associated with cognitive deficits and augmented sensitivity to self-administration of substances of abuse, including alcohol, later in life. However, the relation between social development and loss of control over substance use, a key characteristic of substance use disorders including alcohol use disorder (AUD), has not been investigated. Moreover, it remains unknown how inherent differences in playfulness relate to differences in the sensitivity to substance use and AUD.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine how individual differences in juvenile social play behaviour predict alcohol intake and loss of control over alcohol seeking.MethodsJuvenile male Lister hooded rats were characterized for their tendency to engage in social play behaviour. Subsequently, alcohol consumption and conditioned suppression of alcohol seeking were assessed in the tertiles of rats that showed the most and least social play.ResultsThe rats that engaged most in social play behaviour consumed more alcohol than their less playful counterparts. However, whereas the most playful rats showed intact conditioned suppression of alcohol seeking, the least playful rats showed no such suppression.ConclusionIndividual levels of playfulness predict the sensitivity to alcohol-directed behaviour. Highly playful rats are more prone to alcohol intake, yet show greater control over alcohol seeking. These findings increase our understanding of the relationship between social development and vulnerability to AUD.

Highlights

Social play behaviour is the most prominent form of social behaviour displayed by young mammals (Panksepp et al 1984; Pellis and Pellis 2009; Vanderschuren et al 1997)
We demonstrated a high degree of individual variation in alcohol consumption in Lister hooded rats, which was paralleled by variation in the loss of control over alcohol seeking (Spoelder et al 2015, 2017), which is a key characteristic of substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD) (American Psychiatric Association 2013)
We show that individual levels in social play behaviour predict later alcohol consumption, as well as the degree of control over alcohol seeking in rats

Summary

Introduction

Social play behaviour is the most prominent form of social behaviour displayed by young mammals (Panksepp et al 1984; Pellis and Pellis 2009; Vanderschuren et al 1997). Social play behaviour is modulated through neural systems that mediate the rewarding effects of natural rewards like food or sex, as well as substances of abuse (Siviy and Panksepp 2011; Trezza et al 2010; Vanderschuren et al 2016). Substances of abuse alter the expression of play behaviour (for review see Trezza et al 2014; Vanderschuren et al 2016). Treatment with low doses of alcohol enhances social play behaviour in rats

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Conclusion