NORADRENERGIC MEDIATION OF POSITIVE REINFORCING PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL - .1. SUPPRESSION OF ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION IN LABORATORY RATS FOLLOWING DOPAMINE-BETA-HYDROXYLASE INHIBITION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 230  (1) , 65-75
Abstract
Ethanol-drinking rats were injected with the dopamine-.beta.-hydroxylase inhibitor FLA-57 [hexahydro-4-methyl-1H-1,4-diazepine-1-carbodithioic acid), prior to free-choice presentations of ethanol and water either for 5 alternate days (25 or 40 mg/kg i.p.) or for 5 consecutive days (45 mg/kg i.p.). In all cases, the FLA-57 treated animals markedly attenuated ethanol consumption while vehicle-injected controls showed no change from baseline. In the post-injection period ethanol intake gradually returned to baseline levels. Biochemical assays revealed that whole brain norepinephrine levels following injection of FLA-57 (15-60 mg/kg i.p.) were significantly depressed while dopamine and serotonin levels were slightly increased. Norepinephrine may be involved in the mediation of the positive reinforcing properties of ethanol regulating its self-administration.