Forced ethanol treatment stimulates and inhibits ethanol intake in a rat model of alcoholism

Hedlund, L Wahlstrom, G

L. Hedlund et G. Wahlstrom, Forced ethanol treatment stimulates and inhibits ethanol intake in a rat model of alcoholism, ALC ALCOHOL, 35(5), 2000, pp. 446-451

19

INGLESE

Article

Clinical Psycology & Psychiatry","Neurosciences & Behavoir

ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM

0735-0414 → ACNP

35

5

2000

446 - 451

ISI

0735-0414(200009/10)35:5<446:FETSAI>2.0.ZU;2-R

In a model of psychological dependance, a very stable ethanol intake was in duced by a chronic (1-year) intermittant (once a week exposure to intoxicat ing amounts of ethanol (24 h choice between ethanol and water, follow ed by 2.0 g/kg i.p.) After this year, the rats had continuous access to ethanol and water. Stability was shown by the ability of the rats to take the same dose of ethanol tin g/kg) when the concentration was changed from 10 to 20% . To study possible priming or inhibiting effects on ethanol intake. ethano l was injected i.p.. first as 20%, 40% or 60% of the intake in the 24 h pri or to the injection, then as fixed doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, and the eth anol intake during the following 24-h period was recorded. The results show ed that, following a low dose of ethanol, voluntary ethanol intake was incr eased in rats with a low and decreased in rats with a high, ethanol intake, while high doses of ethanol seemed to decrease voluntary ethanol intake in all rats. The results are discussed in relation to theories about loss of control of drinking and relapse in humans.