Conditioned social preference and reward value of activating oxytocin-receptor-expressing ventral tegmental area neurons following repeated daily binge ethanol intake.

Background: Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit a disruption of social behavior and dysregulation of oxytocin signaling in the brain, possibly reflecting decreased activation of oxytocin receptors (OxTRs) in reward pathways in response to social stimuli. We hypothesize that daily binge ethanol intake causes a deficit in social reward and oxytocin signaling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Methods: After 9 weeks of daily binge ethanol intake (blood ethanol concentration >80 mg%), OxTR-cre mice underwent conditioned place preference for social reward.