The synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline increases alcohol self-administration and alters basolateral amygdala response to alcohol in rats.

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness that can increase the risk for developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While clinical data has been useful in identifying similarities in the neurobiological bases of these disorders, preclinical models are essential for understanding the mechanism(s) by which PTSD increases the risk of developing AUD. The purpose of these studies was to examine if exposure of male Long-Evans rats to the synthetically produced predator odor 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline (TMT) would increase alcohol self-administration, potentially by facilitating transfer of salience towards cues, and alter neuronal response to alcohol as measured by the immediate early gene c-Fos. In Experiment 1 rats exposed to repeated (4x) TMT showed reductions in goal-tracking behavior in Pavlovian conditioned approach, and increases in alcohol self-administration. In Experiment 2 rats exposed to repeated TMT showed blunted basolateral amygdala c-Fos response to alcohol, and increased correlation between medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala subregions. In Experiment 3 rats exposed to single, but not repeated TMT showed increases in alcohol self-administration, and no change in anxiety-like behavior or hyperarousal. In Experiment 4, rats showed no habituation of corticosterone response after 4 TMT exposures. In summary, exposure of male rats to TMT can cause escalations in alcohol self-administration, reductions in goal-tracking behavior, and reduction in BLA response to alcohol. These studies outline and utilize a novel preclinical model that can be used to further neurobiological understanding of the relationship between PTSD and AUD.