Behavioral and Physiological Control of Ethanol Drinking

Altered central nervous system (CNS) control over ethanol ingestion is believed central to alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to impact ethanol consumption but further work is required to elucidate the CNS mechanisms by which these factors result in excessive ethanol intake. Our studies examine the mechanisms which regulate alcohol consumption in rodent models, and has
led to a greater understanding of altered CNS activity resulting from alcohol consumption. We are currently examining the combined effects of genetic selection, using the alcohol preferring and alcohol non-preferring rat lines combined with various ethanol initiation procedures upon drinking patterns measured in the continuous access drinking situation. We then attempt to determine the role of various anatomical and
neurotransmitter pathways in ethanol reinforcement. The brain area of primary interest is the mesolimbic dopamine-GABA system, which is considered a critical part of the "brain reward" pathway. 

I am currently not accepting applications for either pre or post-doctoral students.

Recent Publications (2001-present)

Samson HH, Chappell A. Injected muscimol in pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus alters ethanol self-administration. Alcohol 2001; 23:41-48.

Freedland CS, Sharpe AL, Samson HH, Porrino LJ.  Effects of SR141716A on ethanol and sucrose self-administration. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res 2001;25:277-282.

Czachowski CL, Legg BH, Samson HH.  The effects of acamprosate on ethanol seeking and self- administration in the rat. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res 2001:25;344-350

Samson HH, Chappell A. Effects of alcohol deprivation on alcohol consumption using a sipper-tube procedure.  Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res 2001:25;680-686.

Sharpe AL, Samson HH  Effect of naloxone on appetitive and consummatory phases of ethanol self-administration.  Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res 2001:25;1006-1011

Samson HH, Chappell A, Czachowski C, Sharpe A   Measuring ethanol-seeking behavior: The effects of using repeated extinction trials.  Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res.25(3):344-350. 2001

Czachowski, CL, Chappell, AM, and Samson HH  The effects of raclopride in the nucleus accumbens on ethanol-seeking and consumption. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res. 25:1431-1440.2001.

Samson HH and Chappell AM  Muscimol Injected into the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of the Rat Alters Ethanol Self-Administration.  Physiol Behav. 74:581-587 2001.

Samson, HH, Chappell A, Legg, B  Self-Administered Alcohol or Sucrose Preloads on Subsequent Consumption in the Rat.  J. Stud. Alc. 2001, in press.

Samson, HH and Chappell, A  Reinstatement of ethanol seeking responding after ethanol self-administration.  Alcoholism: Clin. Exp. Res.26;95-101. 2002.

Ford, MM, Eldridge JC, Samson HH, Microanalysis of ethanol self-administration: Estrous cycle phase-related changes in consumption patterns.  Alcoholism: Clin. Exp. Res.26;5:635-643. 2002.

Sim-Selley, LJ, Sharpe AL, Vogt LJ, Brunk LK, Selley DE, Samson HH, Effect of ethanol self-administration on mu and delta opioid receptor-medicated G-protein activity.  Alcoholism: Clin. Exp. Res. 26:688-694,2002.

Samson, HH and Czachowski CL  Behavioral measures of alcohol self-administration and intake control: Rodent Models.  International Rev Neurobiology  54: 107-143, 2002.

Ford, MM, Eldridge, JC and Samson HH  Ethanol consumption in the female Long-Evans rat: a modulatory role of estradiol.  Alcohol 26: 103-113, 2002.

Czachowski CL, Santini LA, Legg BH, Samson HH.  Separate measures of ethanol seeking and drinking in the rat: effects of remoxipride.  Alcohol 28:39-46, 2002.

Adams N, Mitchell PS, Campbell SD, Samson HH  Ethanol self-administration in the Maudsley reactive and Maudsley nonreactive inbred rats.  Alcohol 26:155-161, 2002

Czachowski CL and Samson HH  Ethanol- and sucrose-reinforced appetitive and consummatory responding in the HAD1, HAD2 and P rats.  Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res, 26:1653-1661, 2002.

Vacca G, Serra S, Brunetti G, Carai MAM, Samson HH, Gessa GL and Colombo G  Operant self-administration of ethanol in Sardinian Alcohol-preferring rats.  Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res 26:1678-1685, 2002.

Sharpe AL and Samson HH  Ethanol and sucrose self-administration components: Effects of drinking history.  Alcohol, 2002, in press.

Czachowski CL, Legg BH and Samson HH  Assessment of sucrose and ethanol reinforcement: The across-session breakpoint procedure.  Physiol & Behav , 2002, in press.

Samson, HH, Denning C and Czachowski CL  Effects of self-administered ethanol or water pre-loads on appetitive and consummatory behavior in the alcohol-preferring (P) rat.  J Stud Alcohol, 2002, in press.

Kiianmaa K, Hyytia P, Samson HH, Engle JA, Svensson L, Soderpalm B, Larsson A, Colombo G, Vacca G, Finn DA, Bachtell RK, Ryabinin AE  New neural networks involved in ethanol reinforcement.  Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res, 2002, in press.