Ketosis Level as a Factor Determining Addictive Behavior of Alcoholized Rats

A group of 20 rats was subjected to long-lasting alcoholization (90-day-long forced consumption of 10% aqueous ethanol solution, ES). Every day at 17.00, the ES volume consumed by the animals per day was measured, and the level of ketone bodies in the urine was estimated in points using a semiquantitative quick ketone test. Then, rats were divided into two equivalent groups, experimental and control ones (n = 10 in each group). During the subsequent three-day-long main stage of the experiment, animals of the experimental group were preliminarily (at 17.00 of the preceding day) subjected to peroral administration of 1.0 ml of solution of unithiol, i.e., an agent neutralizing ketone bodies. Within three days of the mentioned period, the level of ketonuria was estimated within a 9.00–17.00 observation period with one-hour-long intervals. This time, free access of rats to water or ES was provided. We found that rats of the experimental group consumed more than one-third of the daily ES norm within the first hour of observation; i.e., within the interval where the level of ketonuria was minimum (0.17 points, on average). After this, the amount of the consumed ES decreased, while the level of ketonuria increased significantly in a parallel manner. In control rats throughout the observation period, hourly consumption of ES and the level of ketonuria demonstrated no significant dynamics. We hypothesize that there is a causal relationship between the ketosis level and the behavioral reaction of alcohol consumption (the lower the ketosis, the higher the consumption). Under conditions of alcoholization resulting in the development of hypoglycemia, ketone bodies begin to be used in the brain as an energy substrate, and the brain becomes dependent on the level of ketonemia to a significant extent. These level is a rather important factor determining alcohol addiction; direct factors initiating a situational drive for alcohol consumption are hypoketonemia episodes.

from Physiology via xlomafota13 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2giva38
via IFTTT