This work was supported, in part, by Research grants SC CTSI NIH/NCRR/ NCATS -- UL1TR000130 (D.L.D.), AA022448 (D.L.D.), and the USC School of Pharmacy.

All procedures described here have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus.
1. Experimental Setup and Assembly
<ol>
	<li>Acquire all of the following supplies and chemicals before the start of the study: mice, cages/metal cage tops, bedding, food, water, ethanol, pipets, sipper tops, shrink wrap, utility knife, zip ties, tape, Bunsen burner, scale, headlamp.</li>
	<li>Obtain C57BL/6J mice, either from a...

<ol>
	<li>Litten, R. Z., Falk, D. E., Ryan, M. L., Fertig, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Discovery,+Development,+and+Adoption+of+Medications+to+Treat+Alcohol+Use+Disorder:+Goals+for+the+Phases+of+Medications+Development.">Discovery, Development, and Adoption of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder: Goals for the Phases of Medications Development.</a> Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 40 (7), 1368-1379 (2016).</li><li>Grant, B. F., Dawson, D. A., Stinson, F. S., Chou, S. P., Dufour, M. C., Pickering, R. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+12-month+prevalence+and+trends+in+DSM-IV+alcohol+abuse+and+dependence:+United+States,+1991-1992+and+2001-2002.">The 12-month prevalence and trends in DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence: United States, 1991-1992 and 2001-2002.</a> Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 74 (3), 223-234 (2004).</li><li>Sacks, J. J., Gonzales, K. R., Bouchery, E. E., Tomedi, L. E., Brewer, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=National+and+State+Costs+of+Excessive+Alcohol+Consumption.">National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption.</a> American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 49 (5), 73-79 (2015).</li><li>Litten, R. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Medications+development+to+treat+alcohol+dependence:+a+vision+for+the+next+decade.">Medications development to treat alcohol dependence: a vision for the next decade.</a> Addiction Biology. 17 (3), 513-527 (2012).</li><li>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Johnson+Medication+Treatment+of+Different+Types+of+Alcoholism.">Johnson Medication Treatment of Different Types of Alcoholism.</a> American Journal of Psychiatry. 167 (6), 630-639 (2010).</li><li>Litten, R. Z., Wilford, B. B., Falk, D. E., Ryan, M. L., Fertig, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Potential+medications+for+the+treatment+of+alcohol+use+disorder:+An+evaluation+of+clinical+efficacy+and+safety.">Potential medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: An evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety.</a> Substance Abuse. 37 (2), 286-298 (2016).</li><li>Litten, R. Z., Ryan, M. L., Falk, D. E., Reilly, M., Fertig, J. B., Koob, G. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heterogeneity+of+Alcohol+Use+Disorder:+Understanding+Mechanisms+to+Advance+Personalized+Treatment.+Alcoholism:+Clinical+and+Experimental.">Heterogeneity of Alcohol Use Disorder: Understanding Mechanisms to Advance Personalized Treatment. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental.</a> Research. 39 (4), 579-584 (2015).</li><li>Schuckit, M. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Genome-Wide+Search+for+Genes+That+Relate+to+a+Low+Level+of+Response+to+Alcohol.">A Genome-Wide Search for Genes That Relate to a Low Level of Response to Alcohol.</a> Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 25 (3), 323-329 (2001).</li><li>Batki, S. L., Pennington, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toward+Personalized+Medicine+in+the+Pharmacotherapy+of+Alcohol+Use+Disorder:+Targeting+Patient+Genes+and+Patient+Goals.">Toward Personalized Medicine in the Pharmacotherapy of Alcohol Use Disorder: Targeting Patient Genes and Patient Goals.</a> American Journal of Psychiatry. 171 (4), 391-394 (2014).</li><li>Koob, G. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Theoretical+frameworks+and+mechanistic+aspects+of+alcohol+addiction:+alcohol+addiction+as+a+reward+deficit+disorder.">Theoretical frameworks and mechanistic aspects of alcohol addiction: alcohol addiction as a reward deficit disorder.</a> Current topics in behavioral neurosciences. 13, 3-30 (2013).</li><li>Yoneyama, N., Crabbe, J. C., Ford, M. M., Murillo, A., Finn, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Voluntary+ethanol+consumption+in+22+inbred+mouse+strains.">Voluntary ethanol consumption in 22 inbred mouse strains.</a> Alcohol. 42 (3), 149-160 (2008).</li><li>Rhodes, J. S., Best, K., Belknap, J. K., Finn, D. A., Crabbe, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+a+simple+model+of+ethanol+drinking+to+intoxication+in+C57BL/6J+mice.">Evaluation of a simple model of ethanol drinking to intoxication in C57BL/6J mice.</a> Physiology &amp; Behavior. 84 (1), 53-63 (2005).</li><li>Thiele, T. E., Navarro, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term="Drinking+in+the+dark"+(DID)+procedures:+A+model+of+binge-like+ethanol+drinking+in+non-dependent+mice.">"Drinking in the dark" (DID) procedures: A model of binge-like ethanol drinking in non-dependent mice.</a> Alcohol. 48 (3), 235-241 (2014).</li><li>Crabbe, J. C., Spence, S. E., Brown, L. L., Metten, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alcohol+preference+drinking+in+a+mouse+line+selectively+bred+for+high+drinking+in+the+dark.">Alcohol preference drinking in a mouse line selectively bred for high drinking in the dark.</a> Alcohol. 45 (5), 427-440 (2011).</li><li>Sprow, G. M., Thiele, T. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+neurobiology+of+binge-like+ethanol+drinking:+Evidence+from+rodent+models.">The neurobiology of binge-like ethanol drinking: Evidence from rodent models.</a> Physiology &amp; Behavior. 106 (3), 325-331 (2012).</li><li>Neasta, J., Hamida, B., Yowell, Q., Carnicella, S., Ron, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+for+mammalian+target+of+rapamycin+complex+1+signaling+in+neuroadaptations+underlying+alcohol-related+disorders.">Role for mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling in neuroadaptations underlying alcohol-related disorders.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107 (46), 20093-20098 (2010).</li><li>Huynh, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+development+of+moxidectin+as+a+novel+therapeutic+for+alcohol+use+disorder.">Preclinical development of moxidectin as a novel therapeutic for alcohol use disorder.</a> Neuropharmacology. 113, 60-70 (2017).</li><li>Egli, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Can+experimental+paradigms+and+animal+models+be+used+to+discover+clinically+effective+medications+for+alcoholism.">Can experimental paradigms and animal models be used to discover clinically effective medications for alcoholism.</a> Addiction Biology. 10 (4), 309-319 (2005).</li><li>Huynh, N., Arabian, N., Lieu, D., Asatryan, L., Davies, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Utilizing+an+Orally+Dissolving+Strip+for+Pharmacological+and+Toxicological+Studies:+A+Simple+and+Humane+Alternative+to+Oral+Gavage+for+Animals.">Utilizing an Orally Dissolving Strip for Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies: A Simple and Humane Alternative to Oral Gavage for Animals.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (109), (2016).</li><li>Yardley, M. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ivermectin+reduces+alcohol+intake+and+preference+in+mice.">Ivermectin reduces alcohol intake and preference in mice.</a> Neuropharmacology. 63 (2), 190-201 (2012).</li><li>Parasuraman, S., Raveendran, R., Kesavan, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Blood+sample+collection+in+small+laboratory+animals.">Blood sample collection in small laboratory animals.</a> Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. 1 (2), 87-93 (2010).</li></ol>

DLD and LA are inventors on a patent for the repurposing of ivermectin and related avermectins for the treatment of alcohol-use disorders. The authors have no other conflicts of interest and are entirely responsible for the scientific content of the paper.

Worldwide estimates indicate that as many as 76 million people meet the criteria to warrant a diagnosis for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Unfortunately, pharmaceutical treatments currently available are largely ineffective and further development is necessary to offset the needs of this clinical population20. To this end, the following protocol aims to facilitate this endeavor by exemplifying two of the most basic rodent drinking paradigms: two-bottle-choice (TBC) and drinking in the dark (DID). Bot...

For the past 25 plus years, significant effort has been put towards developing medications for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)1.Although many advances have been made, AUD still remains a major public health problem, affecting over 18 million Americans, and costing over $220 billion annually2,3. Currently there are only three FDA-approved medications, disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate, all of which have yielded inconsistent results in clinical trials and limited success even when combined with psychosocial intervention in the clinic settings4,5,6,7.
A primary reason for failures of current AUD therapy is linked to the heterogenous nature of AUD8. While both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of AUD, heritability accounts for an estimated 50 - 60% of the risk of onset9. Similar to the treatment of depression, it is widely accepted that patients suffering from AUD will need a variety of medications that are tailored to meet the needs of each patient10.
Clearly, there is an urgent need for more effective treatments that would be facilitated if the already arduous and time consuming process of drug discovery were streamlined3. To this end, the following protocol demonstrates the preclinical applicability of two rodent drinking models widely used to examine the neurobiological basis of AUD11. More specifically, the method introduced herein can assess the efficacy of candidate compounds at reducing alcohol consumption in both &#34;moderate&#34; and &#34;binge drinking&#34; scenarios utilizing the two-bottle choice (TBC) and drinking in the dark (DID) paradigms, respectively. Both paradigms examine non-operant ethanol self-administration, whereby mice ingest ethanol orally and at will, and therefore illustrate high face and construct validity as a model of human alcoholism11.
In TBC drinking, also known as free choice drinking, preference drinking, or social drinking, two bottles of solution are continuously available in the home cage. One bottle contains water, and the other contains a diluted solution of ethanol, whereby the concentration of ethanol can be varied (e.g., 5 - 30% v/v)11,12. The mice have constant access to both bottles, and therefore, can choose how much to drink from each bottle.
This model assesses the ethanol consumption of each mouse (g/kg), as well as the ethanol preference ratio (volume of ethanol consumed &#247; total volume liquid consumed). It is routinely used to compare drinking levels across different strains of mice, or after a specific genetic manipulation (e.g., gene knockout or knockdown) and results in blood ethanol concentrations (BECs) similar to what is found in humans when drinking in moderation13,14.
In the DID procedure, 3 h after the start of the dark cycle, the home cage bottle of water is exchanged with a bottle of 20% (v/v) ethanol solution for a limited access drinking session. The drinking sessions occur as a consecutive 4-day cycle, lasting 2 h on days 1 - 3 and 4 h on day 4. Days 1-3 serve as an alcohol-habituation period before the testing on day 4. Consequently, mice will reliably consume enough ethanol to attain BECs &#62;100 mg/dL and as a result, exhibit the behavioral effects of intoxication found in humans that are binge drinking13,14,15. Water access is available at all times other than the drinking session.
There are several variations of limited access drinking. For example, in the intermittent access model, mice receive two bottles (one containing water and the other containing 20% (v/v) ethanol) only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with a 24 h and 48 h withdrawal period on weekdays and weekends, respectively16. After several weeks of intermittent access, the mice will gradually and voluntarily escalate drinking levels, eventually attaining BECS similar to what is observed in the DID model. The DID, however, appears to be the most commonly used model to assess binge-like drinking behavior. Other models of intermittent drinking exist, but they rely on restricting access to food or vapor chamber induced increases in voluntary self-administration, which makes them less representative of voluntary human alcohol consumption16.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1617px;" width="1616">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:483px;">1 L&#160; graduated cylinder</td>
			<td style="width:315px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:232px;">https://us.vwr.com/store/product/20935285/marisco-single-scale-cylinder-graduates-john-m-maris-co</td>
			<td style="width:588px;">To prepare ethanol solution.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">1 L glass bottle</td>
			<td>Pyrex (Fisher Scientific)</td>
			<td>https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/pyrex-reusable-media-storage-bottles-12/p-42752</td>
			<td>To prepare ethanol solution.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">100 mL graduated cylinder</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/kimble-chase-kimax-class-a-to-contain-graduated-cylinders-8/p-4369311</td>
			<td>To prepare ethanol solution.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Analox</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>One potential method of analyzing DID blood samples is by using the analox machine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">ball-bearing sipper tubes</td>
			<td>Ancare Corp.</td>
			<td>http://www.ancare.com/products/watering-equipment/open-drinking-tubes/straight-tubes-ball-point</td>
			<td>Length: 2.5 inches, Diameter: 5/16 inches, Model: TD100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">C57BL/6J Mice</td>
			<td>Jackson lab</td>
			<td>https://www.jax.org/strain/000664</td>
			<td>May also come from internal breeding colony</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">disposable serological pipets</td>
			<td>VWR International (VWR)</td>
			<td>https://us.vwr.com/store/product/4760455/vwr-disposable-serological-pipets-polystyrene-sterile-plugged</td>
			<td>10 mL, 18 mL, or 25 mL&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">ethanol, pure, 190 proof (95%), USP, KOPTEC</td>
			<td>Decon Labs (VWR)</td>
			<td>https://us.vwr.com/store/product/4542412/ethanol-pure-190-proof-95-usp-koptec</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">heat gun&#160;</td>
			<td>Master Appliances Corp.</td>
			<td colspan="2">http://www.masterappliance.com/master-heat-guns-kits/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">heat shrink tubing</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>Diameter: 3/8 inches</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">industrial knife/blade</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">metal cage plate</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>Should be available through the university/institutional vivarium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">mouse RO water</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>Should be available through the university/institutional vivarium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">portable electronic scale</td>
			<td>Ohaus (VWR)</td>
			<td>https://us.vwr.com/store/product/4789377/portable-electronic-cs-series-scales-ohaus</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">red light headlamp</td>
			<td>nyteBright (Amazon)</td>
			<td>https://www.amazon.com/LED-Headlamp-Flashlight-Red-Light/dp/B00R0LMMF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#38;qid=1499591137&#38;sr=8-1-spons&#38;keywords=red+lamp+headlamp&#38;psc=1</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">silicone stoppers</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>---</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">thermometer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/fisher-scientific-hygro-thermometer-clock-large-display-2/p-4077232</td>
			<td>---</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">weigh boat</td>
			<td>VWR International (VWR)</td>
			<td>https://us.vwr.com/store/product/16773534/vwr-pour-boat-weighing-dishes</td>
			<td>The lid from a pipete tip box is an appropriate alternative</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

murine drinking models in the development of pharmacotherapies for alcoholism: drinking in the dark and two-bottle choice

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major problem with more than an estimated 76 million people worldwide meeting the diagnostic criteria. Current treatments are limited to three FDA-approved medications that are largely ineffective even when combined with psychosocial intervention, as is evident by the high relapse rate. As such, the search for more novel treatments represents an important public health goal. To this end, the following protocol utilizes two simple rodent drinking models to assess the preclinical efficacy of lead anti-alcohol compounds: two-bottle choice (TBC) and drinking in the dark (DID). The former allows mice to voluntary drink in moderation while the latter induces mice to voluntary consume a large amount of alcohol in a short period that mimics binge drinking. The simple and high throughput nature of both of these paradigms allow for rapid screening of pharmacological agents or for identifying strains of mice that exhibit certain voluntary drinking behavior.

In the following representative investigations, social drinking was modeled using the two-bottle choice (TBC) paradigm. Briefly, mice had access to two bottles of solution, one of which contained water, and the other a 10% (v/v) ethanol solution. Subjects were subsequently split and evenly assigned to drug treatment groups, moxidectin (MOX) vs. saline control, so that each group would have averaged ethanol intake levels with the least amount of variation.
<p class="jove_content" fo:ke...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice at JoVE.com

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major national health problem and the development of more effective treatments is&#160;required to offset the needs of this patient population. To this end, the following protocol utilizes two simple rodent drinking models to assess the preclinical efficacy of lead anti-alcohol compounds.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major problem with more than an estimated 76 million people worldwide meeting the diagnostic criteria. Current treatments ...

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7.7K Görüntüleme.  University of Southern California. Bu paradigmanın genel amacı, alkol kullanım bozukluğunun kemirgen modellerini kullanarak potansiyel bir anti-alkol ilacının etkinliğini değerlendirmektir. Alkol kullanımı bozukluğu büyük bir halk sağlığı krizini temsil eder. Mevcut tedaviler etkisizdir ve devam eden klinik öncesi araştırmalara ihtiyaç vardır.Protokolümüz, potansiyel bir tedavinin güvenliğini ve yararını değerlendirmemize ve hastalığın altında yatan nörobiyolojiye bakmamızı sağlar. B...