L-NNA DECREASES CORTICAL VASCULARIZATION, ALCOHOL PREFERENCE AND WITHDRAWAL IN ALCOHOLIC RATS

Citation
F. Lallemand et P. Dewitte, L-NNA DECREASES CORTICAL VASCULARIZATION, ALCOHOL PREFERENCE AND WITHDRAWAL IN ALCOHOLIC RATS, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 58(3), 1997, pp. 753-761
Citations number
39
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
ISSN journal
0091-3057
Volume
58
Issue
3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
753 - 761
Database
ISI
SICI code
0091-3057(1997)58:3<753:LDCVAP>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Rats, which were made chronically alcoholic in combination with L-N-o- nitro-arginine (L-NNA) treatment (5 mg/kg/day), a nitric oxide (NO) sy nthase inhibitor, showed a significant decrease in their alcohol prefe rence and hypermotility during the withdrawal period by comparison wit h chronically alcoholic rats. However, no difference in the global liq uid consumption between treated and untreated rats during the withdraw al stage was identified. In addition, the hypervascularization of the cortical area observed after chronic alcoholism was significantly decr eased in the rats that had received L-NNA during the alcoholism proced ure and was comparable to control rats. Thus, L-NNA alters both the be havioral preference for alcohol after alcoholism and the hypermotility during alcohol withdrawal, thus supporting the hypothesis of a direct implication of NO in alcohol abuse and its withdrawal. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science Inc.