title: Behavioral interactions of ethanol and methylxanthines.
abstract: The effect of the methylxanthines caffeine, theophylline and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) on ethanol-induced ataxia and loss of righting reflex was investigated in three strains of mice. A significant potentiation of ethanol-induced ataxia was produced in all strains of mice at 20, 45 and 75 min after ethanol in mice pretreated with 62.5 mg/kg caffeine and 12.5 mg/kg IBMX. In mice pretreated with 40 mg/kg caffeine potentiation of ethanol-induced ataxia was observed only at 20 min after ethanol. Theophylline pretreatment produced no alteration in ethanol-induced ataxia. The results of methylxanthine pretreatment on ethanol-induced ataxia were similar, regardless of a shorter (10 min) or longer (75 min) pretreatment time. The methylxanthines produced no effect on motor coordination or behavior when administered separately. Although ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex was shortened by theophylline, neither caffeine nor IBMX altered the duration of loss of righting reflex. It is possible that inhibition of adenosine uptake, a known effect of the methylxanthines, may be a more likely explanation for the modulation of the behavioral effects of ethanol.
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014970:Xanthines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014970:Xanthines; D002110:Caffeine; D000431:Ethanol; D013806:Theophylline; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine