title: Ethanol self-administration in deprived rats: effects of Ro15-4513 alone, and in combination with flumazenil (Ro15-1788).
abstract: Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that Ro15-4513, a partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist, decreases self-administration of ethanol (ETOH) in rats maintained on a two-bottle regmine of a saccharin ethanol solution (ES) and water over a 35-day consumption period. The present study extended the consumption period to 60 days and examined the effects of Ro15-4513 (2.5 mg/kg), flumazenil (Ro15-1788) (8.0 mg/kg), and Ro15-4513 in combination with Ro15-1788 on the time course of ETOH self-administration. High initial intake of ES observed during the first 4 weeks declined significantly over subsequent weeks. Ro15-4513 pretreatment, however, resulted in significant reduction of ES, while significantly preventing the "normal" reduction of consumption as was observed under control conditions. The antagonistic actions of Ro15-4513 were blocked/attenuated by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, Ro15-1788, independent of whether consumption of the ES was low or high. Both Ro15-4513 and Ro15-1788 affected water intake differentially compared with vehicle-injected controls. The results suggest that GABA-benzodiazepine mechanisms may be important in altering chronic ETOH drinking patterns depending upon experience with ETOH, tolerance, or learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Howard University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: June
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Colker
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Domangue
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: June
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001386:Azides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012646:Self Administration; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005442:Flumazenil; C042957:Ro 15-4513