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At least 1,531 records · Page 85Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Voluntary ethanol consumption in rats: the importance of the exposure paradigm in determining final intake outcome.

The present investigation examined two methods of ethanol presentation to laboratory rats that have been used to examine the mechanisms mediating voluntary ethanol intake in animals. Experiment I examined whether a restricted access procedure had any significant and meaningful relationship in individual animals to drinking behavior in an unrestricted 24h paradigm. An unselected strain of rats was given free access (unrestricted 24h free choice) to ethanol and water, and later exposed to a restricted 10min access to ethanol. A significant positive relationship between the absolute amount of ethanol consumed in the 24h access paradigm and the amount ingested by the same animals in the restricted access procedure was demonstrated. Experiment 2 examined the extent to which a forced choice preference testing procedure, commonly used in screening ethanol-preferring P rats, was in and of itself sufficient to produce increased levels of ethanol consumption in unselected Long-Evans rats. Results indicated that subjects receiving only 4 days of forced exposure to 10% ethanol consumed, over the next eight ethanol presentations, levels of ethanol exceeding 5g/kg with a 0.60 preference ratio. A microstructural analysis of the pattern of free choice ethanol intake following forced ethanol exposure (Experiment 3) revealed that rats consumed ethanol within short discrete bouts with the largest of these daily bouts consisting of approximately 4ml (0.75g/kg) of 10% ethanol. The amount consumed during the restricted access bout of Experiment 1 was seen to be within the range of the bouts recorded in Experiment 3. These results suggest that consumption of ethanol during the restricted access may simulate an individual bout of ethanol intake during non-restricted access. The results support the notion that many of the different ethanol drinking models used may have a common basis and that the assessment of the amount and pattern of intake across methods and strains may represent different but equally valid approaches to the study of the same underlying mechanisms.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Lipoprotein metabolism and coffee intake--who is at risk?

Data from a representative health and nutrition survey of German adults (sample of 1073 women and 806 men) were used to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and the concentration of cholesterol in serum as well as other lipoprotein constituents. For these outcome variables multivariate analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Differences in age, body mass index, smoking habits, use of oral contraceptives, physical activity, alcohol, fish, fat, milk and tea consumption were controlled for in the models. Interactions between coffee drinking behavior and smoking habits as well as between coffee and the use of oral contraceptives in their relationship with serum cholesterol were of special interest in the analyses. Higher coffee intake (> 400 ml/d) showed higher total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and lower triglyceride rich lipoprotein (TRL) and triglyceride concentrations in serum compared to lower intake (< 200 ml/d). Smoking appeared to be an aggravating factor in these relationships. Results of the linear regression analysis demonstrated an increase of 1.66 mg/dL LDL-C per cup of coffee daily consumed for men and of 1.58 mg/dL for women. The combination of high coffee intake, smoking and no oral contraceptive use ever was associated with the highest total and LDL-C and lowest TRL concentrations in this population. The observed differences may be explained by an increase of lipoprotein lipase activity due to coffee consumption.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The delta 2-opioid receptor antagonist naltriben selectively attenuates alcohol intake in rats bred for alcohol preference.

The relative importance of different opioid receptor types in mediating alcohol drinking behavior compared with the intake of other ingesta can be determined by characterizing the effects of selective opioid antagonists on the intake of various ingesta. Nonselective opioid receptor antagonists suppress the intake of many ingesta including alcohol, food, water, and sweets. Two distinct subtypes of delta-opioid receptors, delta 1 and delta 2, have recently been identified in rodent brain. We have previously reported that naltrindole (NTI), which blocks both delta 1 and delta 2 receptors, suppresses both alcohol and saccharin intake in rats selectively bred for high alcohol preference (P line). We now report that naltriben (NTB), an opioid antagonist that is selective for delta 2-opioid receptors, suppresses alcohol intake in rats of the P line and the effect appears to be both specific for alcohol and independent of alcohol palatability. NTB may reduce alcohol intake by attenuating the reinforcing pharmacological properties of alcohol.

Alcohol Deterrents↗

PubMed2005

Strategies to assess systemic exposure of chemicals in subchronic/chronic diet and drinking water studies.

Strategies were developed for the estimation of systemically available daily doses of chemicals, diurnal variations in blood levels, and rough elimination rates in subchronic feeding/drinking water studies, utilizing a minimal number of blood samples. Systemic bioavailability of chemicals was determined by calculating area under the plasma concentration curve over 24 h (AUC-24 h) using complete sets of data (> or =5 data points) and also three, two, and one selected time points. The best predictions of AUC-24 h were made when three time points were used, corresponding to Cmax, a mid-morning sample, and C(min). These values were found to be 103 +/- 10% of the original AUC-24 h, with 13 out of 17 values ranging between 96 and 105% of the original. Calculation of AUC-24 h from two samples (Cmax and Cmin) or one mid-morning sample afforded slightly larger variations in the calculated AUC-24 h (69-136% of the actual). Following drinking water exposure, prediction of AUC-24 h using 3 time points (Cmax, mid-morning, and Cmin) was very close to actual values (80-100%) among mice, while values for rats were only 63% of the original due to less frequent drinking behavior of rats during the light cycle. Collection and analysis of 1-3 blood samples per dose may provide insight into dose-proportional or non-dose-proportional differences in systemic bioavailability, pointing towards saturation of absorption or elimination or some other phenomenon warranting further investigation. In addition, collection of the terminal blood samples from rats, which is usually conducted after 18 h of fasting, will be helpful in rough estimation of blood/plasma half-life of the compound. The amount of chemical(s) and/or metabolite(s) in excreta and their possible use as biomarkers in predicting the daily systemic exposure levels are also discussed. Determining these parameters in the early stages of testing will provide critical information to improve the appropriate design of other longer-term toxicity studies.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

PubMed1995

Quantitative immunocytochemical evaluation of serotonergic innervation in alcoholic rat brain.

Neurotoxicity can be divided into three levels: depletion, degeneration and denervation. The first level is determined by the transmitter content, and the second and third levels, which require anatomical evaluation, can be analyzed by quantitative immunocytochemistry on a specific neurotransmitter system. An antibody specific to serotonin (5-HT) can reveal detailed normal as well as degenerative morphology of 5-HT neurons. Quantitative alterations of 5-HT fibers in a particular brain region indicate degenerative or plastic changes. This study demonstrates quantitative immunocytochemistry by using image analysis of immunostained 5-HT fibers in selectively-bred, alcohol-preferring and nonpreferring rats, which are known to have divergent drinking behaviors, and 5-HT contents in specific brain regions. The method of the image analysis is described in detail and the advantages and disadvantages of using this method to detect the degeneration of a particular fiber system are discussed. The 'area density' traditionally measured in image analysis was converted (with Zhou-Tam formula) into 'volume density' to correct the mismeasurement of fibers through the optical depth. Quantitative immunostaining shows that the difference in 5-HT fiber density in particular brain regions between the two rat lines is consistent with changes in content of the 5-HT/5-HIAA and hypersensitivity of 5-HT1 a receptor. This result indicates either (a) the 5-HT content is too low to be detected in the nerve terminals; (b) degeneration of 5-HT fibers occurs in P rats sometime during development; or (c) a smaller number of 5-HT fibers was preprogrammed in the brain regions of P than NP rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed2004

The impact of alcohol use on the sexual scripts of HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

The literature on alcohol use has failed to form a consensus on the association between alcohol use and unsafe sex among samples of men who have sex with men (MSM). Although drinking behavior may not be causally related to unsafe sex, it is possible that alcohol use plays a role in sexual scripts. In this paper, we assessed the role that alcohol use plays in the sexual experiences of HIV-seropositive MSM in terms of sexual script theory. An ethnically diverse sample (81% men of color) of HIV-positive MSM with alcohol use disorders from the New York City metropolitan area was recruited from a variety of settings frequented by such men. A critical incident measure was used to qualitatively assess contextual issues regarding participants' most recent incident of unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol. Qualitative analysis revealed three basic sexual scripts involving alcohol: routine, spontaneous, and taboo. Each script had its own sources of risk for unsafe sex. Interventions targeting alcohol use and unsafe sex should be sensitive to the role that alcohol plays in the sexual scripts of HIV-positive MSM.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The effects of peptide and nonpeptide antagonists of angiotensin II receptors on the level of brain biogenic monoamines in rats with angiotensin II-induced increase of water intake.

The effects of peptide and nonpeptide angiotensin II (Ang II)-receptor antagonists (losartan, EXP-3174, saralasin and sarmesin) on the levels of the biogenic monoamines dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the frontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats with Ang II-induced water intake were investigated. Ang II administered i.c.v. at a dose inducing drinking behavior in rats significantly changed the levels of biogenic monoamines. The latter were also significantly affected by the Ang II-receptor antagonists, as in most cases the drugs antagonized the effect of Ang II. Most pronounced were the effects of Ang II and Ang II-receptor antagonists on the dopamine levels. These levels were reduced to zero after Ang II in all brain structures studied. The drugs tested increased the dopamine levels, restoring their values to the values in vehicle-injected rats. Ang II-receptor antagonists exerted mosaic effects on noradrenaline and 5-HT (serotonin) levels depending on both--the type of biogenic monoamine and the brain structure. There was no relationship between the inhibition of Ang II-induced water intake and the changes in the levels of brain biogenic monoamines under the effect of the Ang II-receptor antagonists. These antagonists may play a role in the modulation of brain monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

Increased ethanol consumption and preference and decreased ethanol sensitivity in female FAAH knockout mice.

Previous studies have shown that mice lacking cannabinoid (CB1) receptor gene consume markedly reduced levels of ethanol. Mice lacking the enzyme fatty acid amidohydrolase (FAAH) are severely impaired in their ability to degrade anandamide (AEA) and therefore represent a unique animal model in which to examine the function of AEA in vivo on ethanol-drinking behavior. In the current study, FAAH(-/-) mice were tested for ethanol, saccharin or quinine consumption and preference. Ethanol-induced hypothermia, and sleep time were used to evaluate the sensitivity to acute effects of ethanol. Ethanol intake and preference were increased only in female FAAH(-/-) mice. No significant difference in saccharin or quinine consumption or preference was observed between genotypes. Female FAAH(-/-) mice were less sensitive to the hypothermic and sedative/hypnotic effects of acute ethanol. Supersensitivity to exogenous AEA was noted in both male and female FAAH(-/-) mice. Following voluntary ethanol consumption, CB1 receptor levels and function were down-regulated in male FAAH(+/+), FAAH(-/-), and female FAAH(+/+) mice but not in female FAAH(-/-) mice. Our results suggest that absence of an effect in male mice indicates a sex-linked mechanism that is secondary (or modulatory) to FAAH function. Thus, the data suggest that FAAH may be indirectly related to ethanol intake and sensitivity and central endocannabinoidergic-mediated pathways may regulate ethanol consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1991

Ro15-4513 attenuates the consumption of ethanol in deprived rats.

This research investigated the effects of Ro15-4513 (Ro15), a partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist, on the drinking behavior of 23-1/2 hr fluid deprived rats. Water-deprived rats were maintained on a two-bottle regimen of a saccharin-ETOH solution along with tap water available for 30 min/day for several days. Following this acclimation period, animals were pretreated with either Ro15 (1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg) or Tween-80 vehicle injections. Pretreatment with Ro15 at all doses tested resulted in a significant reduction of the saccharin-ETOH solution; however, Ro15 did not alter the rats' consumption of water. The effects of Ro15 on general fluid consumption was investigated in Experiment 2. Following acclimation to a two-bottle regimen of a saccharin-solution and tap water 30 min/day, naive animals were pretreated with Tween-80 vehicle or Ro15 injections. Ro15 failed to alter saccharin or water consumption. The results of this study support previous reports suggesting that Ro15 attenuates the oral consumption of ETOH; however, this effect does not appear to be due to a general suppression of fluid intake.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1998

Effects of repeated cocaine administration on alcohol consumption.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol consumption (alcohol preference or alcohol intake) in animals is an index of human drinking behavior. Cocaine is the most frequently abused drug at present. Therefore, an increasing number of cases demonstrating concurrent use of alcohol and cocaine is being noted. We examined whether cocaine affects alcohol consumption and studied the mechanism of change in alcohol consumption following cocaine administration. METHOD: We measured alcohol consumption in inbred mice, C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ, when 10 or 50 mg/kg cocaine was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 1 week. Then the rate of blood ethanol disappearance from C57BL/6J mice in vivo was measured. Also, liver alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) activity in vitro were measured in the C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS: Following 50 mg/kg cocaine administration, alcohol consumption was reduced in C57BL/6J mice, but there was no clear change in C3H/HeJ mice. The rate of blood ethanol disappearance was not changed by pretreatment with cocaine. Neither liver ADH nor ALDH activity was changed by repeated cocaine administration. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that repeated cocaine administration decreased alcohol consumption in C57BL/6J mice without altering the metabolism of ethanol.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

PubMed2003

Perception and reality: a national evaluation of social norms marketing interventions to reduce college students' heavy alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a widely used intervention to reduce college student alcohol use, we studied student drinking patterns at colleges that employed social norms marketing programs and those that did not. METHOD: We examined responses of students in the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS) 1997, 1999 and 2001 data sets at 37 colleges that employed social norms marketing programs and at 61 that did not. Information about the students' drinking behavior and their familiarity with social norms marketing messages at their schools was analyzed, as were college administrators' reports about the implementation of social norms marketing campaigns. Schools were grouped on the basis of student reports of exposure to programmatic materials. Trend analyses were conducted on seven standard measures of alcohol consumption, including annual and 30-day use, frequency, usual quantity and volume consumed, heavy episodic use, and drunkenness. RESULTS: Almost half of the CAS colleges sampled adopted social norms programs. Those that did were more likely to have large enrollments, not to be religiously affiliated and to have high rates of alcohol use. No decreases were noted in any of the seven measures of alcohol use at schools with social norms programs, even when student exposure and length of program existence were considered. Increases in measures of monthly alcohol use and total volume consumed, however, were observed at schools employing social norms programs. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not provide evidence to support the effectiveness of social norms marketing programs, as currently utilized, in reducing alcohol use among college students.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1988

[Six-month chronic intravenous toxicity study of cefodizime sodium in dogs].

The chronic intravenous toxicity of cefodizime sodium (THR-221) was studied in beagle dogs. Groups of 6 males and 6 females were treated with THR-221 at doses of 0 (saline), 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg/day for 6 months. The THR-221 related symptoms were vomiting, excessive drinking behavior and salivation. The paleness of the visible mucosa and discoloration of vascular color by funduscopy due to systemic anemia were observed in one animal each of 800 and 1600 mg/kg/day groups. Body weight was depressed transiently or continuously in a few animals of 400-1600 mg/kg/day groups. The hematological, serum chemical and urinalysis findings in a few animals of 400-1600 mg/kg/day groups revealed decreases in RBC count, PCV and hemoglobin, an increase in reticulocyte count, a decrease in WBC count, a decrease in platelet count, slight increase in TP, and albumin, a decrease in AlP, and an increase in urinary Na. Light microscopically, deposition of hemosiderin and increased extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen, and deposition of fibroid substance in the white pulp of the spleen and diffuse fibrosis in the bone marrows were detected in a few animals of 800 and 1600 mg/kg/day groups. Electron microscopically, no significant toxic changes were observed. The maximum nontoxic doses of THR-221 are estimated as 200 mg/kg/day in male and less than 200 mg/kg/day in female.

Anemia↗

PubMed2005

Dopamine D2R DNA transfer in dopamine D2 receptor-deficient mice: effects on ethanol drinking.

Dopamine (DA) signals are transmitted via specific receptors including the D2 receptors (D2R). Previous studies have shown that D2R upregulation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) attenuated alcohol consumption. We hypothesized that upregulation of D2R in the NAc would significantly influence alcohol drinking. We tested this hypothesis by determining the effect that D2R upregulation has on alcohol intake in genetically altered mice lacking D2Rs. After a steady baseline of drinking behavior was established for all mice, a null vector or a genetically modified adenoviral vector containing the rat D2R cDNA was infused into the NAc of wild-type (Drd2+/+), heterozygous (Drd2+/-), and receptor-deficient mice (Drd2-/-). Ethanol intake and preference were then determined using the two-bottle choice paradigm. Our results indicated that Drd2+/+ mice treated with the D2R vector significantly attenuated (58 %) their ethanol intake as well as reduced preference. Drd2+/- and mutant mice showed a similar attenuation, although the change was not as marked (12 %) and did not last as long. In contrast, Drd2-/- mice treated with the D2R vector displayed a temporary but significant increase (46 %) in ethanol intake and preference (consumption). These results supported the notion that the D2R plays an important role in alcohol consumption in mice and suggest that a key threshold range of D2R levels is associated with elevated alcohol consumption. Significant deviations in D2R levels from this range could impact alcohol consumption, and could help to explain possible individual variations in alcohol response, metabolism, sensitivity and consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed2004

Predictors of acamprosate efficacy: results from a pooled analysis of seven European trials including 1485 alcohol-dependent patients.

RATIONALE: Acamprosate is a proven effective intervention in the treatment of alcohol dependence. However, acamprosate prevents lapses or relapses only in a minority of patients. An important question, therefore, is whether there is a specific subgroup of patients who respond particularly well to acamprosate. OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of acamprosate efficacy. Based upon the available evidence and hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying acamprosate's effects on drinking behavior, the following variables were considered to be potential positive predictors: high physiological dependence at baseline, negative family history of alcoholism, late age-of-onset, serious anxiety symptomatology at baseline, severe craving at baseline, and female gender. METHOD: Potential predictors of acamprosate's efficacy were analyzed in a pooled analysis of data from seven randomized placebo-controlled trials involving a total of 1485 patients with alcohol dependence. Outcome is measured in terms of cumulative abstinence duration (CAD), continuous abstinence (ABST), and time to first relapse (TFR). RESULTS: CAD and ABST were predicted by baseline measures of craving and anxiety, as well as by study and treatment condition. Acamprosate efficacy was not differentially associated with any of the predictor variables. Importantly, the hypotheses were rejected despite the large sample size and sufficient statistical power. COMMENT: The most straight-forward clinical implication of this study is that acamprosate can be considered as a potentially effective pharmacotherapy for all patients with alcohol dependence. The effect size of acamprosate alone is, however, moderate. Some evidence indicates that the combination of acamprosate with naltrexone or disulfiram leads to substantially better outcomes.

Acamprosate↗

PubMed2003

High- and low-alcohol-preferring mice show differences in conditioned taste aversion to alcohol.

BACKGROUND: Genetic differences in sensitivity to the aversive effects of alcohol may contribute to alcohol drinking behavior. The present study examined the development of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to various doses of alcohol in two pairs of mouse lines selectively bred for high (HAP) and low (LAP) alcohol preference. METHODS: Alcohol-naïve, male and female HAP and LAP mice from both replicate 1 (HAP n = 29; LAP n = 28) and replicate 2 (HAP n = 34; LAP n = 35) were adapted to a 2-hr per day water restriction regimen. During five conditioning trials at 48 hr intervals, mice received an intraperitoneal injection of saline or 2 g/kg or 4 g/kg alcohol immediately following 1 hr of access to a 0.20 M NaCl solution. RESULTS: LAP mice of both replicates showed a significantly greater magnitude of CTA to both 2 g/kg and 4 g/kg alcohol compared with HAP mice of both replicates. There were no line differences in consumption of the NaCl solution in the saline control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that mice selectively bred for low alcohol preference are more sensitive to the development of alcohol CTA than mice selectively bred for high alcohol preference. The present findings indicate that common genes mediate both alcohol preference and the aversive effects of alcohol as measured in the CTA paradigm.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed2000

Intracerebroventricular injection of antisense oligos to nNOS decreases rat ethanol intake.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in alcohol drinking behavior using NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors that are nonselective of the different isoforms of NOS. In the brain, there are two constitutive isoforms of NOS, neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS). We used an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed against nNOS in ethanol dependent male Wistar rats to examine the specific contribution of nNOS in the control of ethanol intake. Rats were subjected to a free-choice situation water/ethanol (10% v/v) after chronic ethanol intoxication by inhalation of ethanol vapor. During the free-choice situation, rats were twice daily for 4 days intracerebroventricularly injected with either saline, or end-capped phosphorothioate-protected antisense or mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide (25 microg/4 microl per injection), or acamprosate (1 mg/kg body weight) as reference product for its anticraving properties. Our results showed that the antisense treatment, but not the mismatch treatment, reduced both ethanol intake and ethanol preference during treatment and posttreatment periods (by 25-30%) without alteration of the body weight gain. The antisense treatment, but not the mismatch treatment, also down-regulated nNOS mRNA levels (by 30%) and NOS activity in the hippocampus. The anticraving drug, acamprosate reduced both ethanol intake (by 58%) and ethanol preference. All these results suggest that nNOS is involved in the regulation of alcohol dependence.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1997

Lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) inhibit the dipsogenic action of central beta-adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol.

We have previously demonstrated that acute third ventricle injections of both Pb2+ and Cd2+ impair the dipsogenic response elicited by three different situations: dehydration and central cholinergic or angiotensinergic stimulation. beta-Adrenergic activation is part of the multifactorial integrated systems operating in drinking behavior control in the central nervous system. In the present study acute third ventricle injections of Pb2+ (3, 30 and 300 pmol/rat) or Cd2+ (0.3, 3 and 30 pmol/ rat) blocked the dipsogenic response induced by third ventricle injections of isoproterenol (ISO; 160 nmol/rat) in a dose-dependent manner. Normohydrated animals receiving ISO + NaAc (sodium acetate) or saline (controls) displayed a high water intake after 120 min (ISO+saline = 5.78 +/- 0.54 ml/100 g; ISO+NaAc = 6.00 +/- 0.6 ml/100 g). After the same period, animals receiving ISO but pretreated with PbAc at the highest dose employed (300 pmol/rat) drank 0.78 +/- 0.23 ml/100 g while those receiving ISO and pretreated with the highest dose of CdCl2 (30 pmol/rat) presented a water intake of 0.7 +/- 0.30 ml/100 g. Third ventricle injections of CdCl2 (3 nmol/rat) or PbAc (3 nmol/rat) did not modify food intake in rats deprived of food for 24 h. Thus, general central nervous system depression explaining the antidipsogenic action of the metals can be safely excluded. It is concluded that both Pb2+ and Cd2+ inhibit water intake induced by central beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed2000

An experimental soft-release of oil-spill rehabilitated American coots (Fulica americana): I. Lingering effects on survival, condition and behavior.

In spring 1995, we studied survival, condition and behavior of 37 oiled/rehabilitated (OR) American coots (Fulica americana) (RHB) and compared them to 38 wild-caught, non-oiled and non-rehabilitated coots (REF). All coots were wing-clipped to prevent long-range dispersal, mixed equally and randomly and soft-released into two fenced marshes. Twenty RHB+20 REF coots were subjected to handling and sampling four times during the 4-month study and the remainder were left undisturbed. The study ended before any coots dispersed following remige regrowth. Overall survival was significantly lower for RHB coots, regardless of the way survival was viewed (four Chi 2 tests varied between p<0.045 and p<0.006). Mortality was 2.1 times higher in RHB coots: 51% mortality in RHB coots and 24% in REF coots (4 months total). RHB coots began the experiment 9% lighter in mean body condition indices (BCI=a standardization that corrected for different-sized birds) than REF coots, but REF coots also needed a period of adjustment to captivity. BCIs then varied (p<0.02) similarly among both groups throughout the experiment. Initially, RHB coots lost more weight in comparison to REF coots (although RHB coots fed more), but those RHB coots that did survive recovered to REF-comparable BCIs after about 6 weeks: both higher and equivalent at the beginning of moult and then both equivalent but lower through the moulting period. Long-term RHB coot and REF coot survivors both had significant (p<0.001) positive correlations between their initial and ending body weights. A similar relationship was also suggested for the non-surviving REF coots, but could not be tested for statistical significance. In contrast to all other groups, however, non-surviving RHB coots failed to show any relationship between their initial and ending body weights (p>0.10), indicating that non-surviving RHB coots were unable to gain or maintain body condition for about 2-3 months following their oiling/rehabilitation experience. Throughout the experiment, RHB coots preened more on water and on land, bathed more, slept less during the day, and exhibited feeding and drinking behaviors more frequently or of greater duration than REF coots (all statistical tests with Bonferroni-corrected p<0.05).

Journal Article↗