Effects of acute lysergic acid diethylamide on intermittent ethanol and sucrose drinking and intracranial self-stimulation in C57BL/6 mice

Lauri Elsila*, Juliana Harkki, Emma Enberg, Alvar Martti, Anni-Maija Linden, Esa R. Korpi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Psychedelics, like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), are again being studied as potential therapies for many neuropsychiatric disorders, including addictions. At the same time, the acute effects of psychedelics on rewarding behaviours have been scarcely studied. Aims: The current study aimed to clarify if LSD decreases binge-like ethanol drinking in mice, and whether the observed acute effects on ethanol consumption are generalizable to a natural reinforcer, sucrose, and if the effects resulted from aversive or reward-attenuating effects caused by LSD. Methods: The effects of acute LSD were examined using 2-bottle choice intermittent ethanol (20%) and sucrose drinking (10%), discrete-trial current-intensity threshold method of intracranial self-stimulation and short-term feeding behaviour assay in C57BL/6 male mice. Results: The results showed that acute 0.1 mg/kg, but not 0.05 mg/kg, dose (i.p.) of LSD reduced 2-h intermittent ethanol drinking transiently without any prolonged effects. No effects were seen in intermittent 2-h sucrose drinking. The tested LSD doses had neither effect on the intracranial self-stimulation current-intensity thresholds, nor did LSD affect the threshold-lowering, or rewarding, effects of simultaneous amphetamine treatment. Furthermore, LSD had small, acute diminishing effects on 2-h food and water intake. Conclusions: Based on these results, LSD decreases binge-like ethanol drinking in mice, but only acutely. This effect is not likely to stem from reward-attenuating effects but could be in part due to reduced consummatory behaviour.

Original languageEnglish
Article number02698811221104641
Pages (from-to)860-874
Number of pages15
JournalJOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
Volume36
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Reward
  • intracranial self-stimulation
  • ethanol
  • lysergic acid diethylamide
  • sucrose
  • PLACE PREFERENCE
  • SEX-DIFFERENCES
  • LSD
  • CONSUMPTION
  • REWARD
  • ALCOHOLISM
  • RECEPTORS
  • THRESHOLD
  • AVERSION
  • BEHAVIOR

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