SOCIAL NETWORK AND ADDICTION-LIKE TRAITS IN FEMALE MICE EXPOSED TO ALCOHOL

The development of addiction is a highly complex process influenced by multiple factors, including social life. Interactions within social groups can shape individual behavior and may contribute to differences in vulnerability to addiction-like traits. However, it remains unclear how alcohol exposure is associated with changes in social organization and whether individual social engagement is associated with addiction-like behaviors. Animal models enable controlled investigation of the relationship between addiction-like traits and social behavior. The aim of this study was to compare social behavior, activity patterns and social network organization between alcohol-exposed and only water-exposed female mice. Group-housed female C57BL/6 mice were studied using the IntelliCage system. One group was given access to 20% ethanol for two hours daily over three weeks following an initial free exploration phase. A control group had access only to water throughout the entire experimental period. Motivation to alcohol was assessed using progressive ratio of nosepokes, followed by one-week withdrawal phase. Social interactions, overall activity (nosepokes and corner visits), corner patrolling and addiction-like traits were quantified. Alcohol-exposed mice differed from naive controls in social interactions and social network organization. Within the alcohol group, individual differences in addiction scores were observed, and social score positively correlated with addiction score.

These findings suggest group differences in social organization and an association between social engagement and addiction-like behaviors in female mice.

This work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, under grant OPUS no. UMO-2023/51/B/NZ4/01135.