Haloperidol reduces ethanol-induced motor activity stimulation but not conditioned place preference.
This experiment examined the impact of a dopamine receptor blocker on ethanol's rewarding effect in a place conditioning paradigm. DBA/2J mice received four pairings of a tactile stimulus with ethanol (2 g/kg, IP), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, IP)+ethanol, or haloperidol alone. A different stimulus was paired with saline. Ethanol produced increases in locomotor activity that were reduced by haloperidol. However, conditioned preference for the ethanol-paired stimulus was not affected by haloperidol. Haloperidol alone decreased locomotor activity during conditioning and produced a place aversion. These results indicate a dissociation of ethanol's activating and rewarding effects. Moreover, they suggest that ethanol's ability to induce conditioned place preference is mediated by nondopaminergic mechanisms.
Risinger
F O
FO
Department of Medical Psychology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098.
Dickinson
S D
SD
Cunningham
C L
CL
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D012201:Reward
D000431:Ethanol; D006220:Haloperidol