Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Saccharin

“These include reports of: (a) differences in drug selfadministration in rats with differing baseline taste or diet preferences, (b) correlations between the intake of saccharin and the intake of alcohol , and (c) changes in drug self-administration when sweettasting solutions are provided as alternative reinforcers.”

“On the other hand, an augmented mnean intake of 15.1 g/kg was obtained by adding saccharin to the standard 5 percent ethanol solution (6).”

“However, the addition of saccharin in the schedule-induced condition produced a marked increase in ethanol intake (5% ethanol = 13.1 g ethanol/kg/day; 5% ethanol in 0.25% sodium saccharin = 15.1 g ethanol/kg/day).”

“We found that filamentous fungi and Bacillus, contributing to saccharification , were negatively related to the ethanol content (Spearman's |ρ| > 0.5, P < 0.05).”

“ Saccharin after sugar solution also decreases ethanol intake.”

“Optogenetic stimulation of projections from these neurons to the parabrachial nucleus is reinforcing, and increases ethanol drinking as well as consumption of sucrose and saccharin solutions.”

“In contrast, responses per alcohol delivery generally decreased as the saccharin concentration became greater.”

“In animals that had consumed EtOH chronically and were thereafter offered a saccharin solution (0.3%), saccharin intake increased over 100% versus that of EtOH-untreated animals, an effect that was fully suppressed by NAC.”

“Adulterating the ethanol solution with saccharin (0.2%) or quinine (0.06 mM) enhanced or inhibited, respectively, consumption of the 40% ethanol solution similarly in both groups.”

“We suggest … enhancement of saccharin intake … ethanol during STSI is the product of synergism between isolation-induced mu-opioid activity that increases the pup's sensitivity to appetitive taste stimulation and the anxiolytic effects of 0.5 g/kg ethanol that decreases behaviors otherwise competing with independent ingestive activity.”