Biomedical subjects

Przemyslaw Bienkowski

Publications and source records attributed to Przemyslaw Bienkowski.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Taste function in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men.

It has been shown repeatedly that opioid dependence is associated with increased consumption of refined sugars. It is possible that this association results from altered taste reactivity in opioid-dependent subjects. Thus, in the present study, we compared taste responses to sweet, bitter, sour and salty solutions in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men and healthy control subjects. The two groups did not differ in terms of rated intensity or pleasantness of sucrose (1-30%), quinine (0.001-0.005%), citric acid (0.02-0.1%) and sodium chloride (0.18-0.9%) solutions. Proportions of 'sweet-likers', i.e. subjects rating a 30% sucrose (0.88 M) solution as the most pleasant, were also similar in both groups. In line with the previous findings, the methadone-maintained subjects reported adding more table sugar to caffeinated beverages. The results of the present study suggest that changes in taste reactivity may not be responsible for altered dietary choices in opioid addicts.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sucrose self-administration predicts only initial phase of ethanol-reinforced behaviour in Wistar rats.

AIMS: To characterize the relationship between the sucrose- and ethanol-reinforced behaviour in Wistar rats. METHODS: Subjects (n = 31) were trained to lever press for 8% (v/v) ethanol in an operant procedure where increasing concentrations of ethanol were introduced in the presence of 8% (w/v) sucrose. The sucrose concentration was subsequently decreased from 8 to 0%. Subjects were allowed to stabilize their intake of 8% ethanol over the next 20 days. RESULTS: Self-administration of 8% sucrose (ml/kg) significantly correlated with ethanol consumption (g/kg) on days 1-5 of the 8% ethanol self-administration period. This relationship completely disappeared during the subsequent weeks of ethanol self-administration (days 6-20). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study, combined with our previous findings, may indicate that self-administration of sucrose predicts only the initial phase of ethanol-taking behaviour in Wistar rats.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between dopamine D2 receptor-associated responses and operant ethanol self-administration in the rat: a factor analysis.

AIMS: To characterize the relationship between dopamine D(2) receptor-associated responses and operant ethanol self-administration in Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were first tested for apomorphine-induced sniffing and raclopride-induced catalepsy. Subsequently, the same subjects were initiated to lever press for ethanol in the sucrose-fading procedure. The subjects were allowed to respond for 8% v/v ethanol for 20 days. A factor analysis was used to characterize the relationship between D(2)-associated responses and parameters of sucrose and ethanol self-administration. RESULTS: The analysis revealed three factors accounting for 88.3% of the total variability. The first factor comprised only parameters of ethanol-reinforced behaviour. Parameters of sucrose self-administration and cataleptic responses to raclopride loaded heavily on the second and third factors, respectively. None of the factors comprised apomorphine-induced stereotypy. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that there is no relationship between apomorphine-induced sniffing, raclopride-induced catalepsy and operant responding for ethanol in Wistar rats. Our results, combined with previous reports, suggest that D(2) receptors are not primarily involved in the regulation of ethanol reinforcement.

Animals↗