Metyrapone-induced suppression of corticosterone synthesis reduces ethanol consumption in high-preferring rats.
The fluid intake of male Wistar rats with simultaneous access to water and 6% ethanol was determined between 0900 and 1500 h. In high-preferring males (normally covering > 60% of their daily fluid consumption in the form of ethanol), two injections with the corticosterone synthesis inhibitor metyrapone (50 mg/kg) at 0900 h and 1200 h for 4 consecutive days significantly reduced ethanol preference such that they preferred water over alcohol. Treatment with corticosterone (0.6 mg/kg) 2 h before each metyrapone injection partially cancelled this effect of the synthesis inhibitor. By contrast, there was no significant effect of metyrapone treatment on the drinking of ethanol in low-preferring rats (normally covering < 30% of their daily fluid consumption in the form of ethanol). These results suggest that the adrenal secretion of corticosterone directly or indirectly modulates the intake of alcohol in high-preferring rats.
Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
C
C
Fahlke
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E
Hård
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R
Thomasson
J A
JA
Engel
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S
Hansen
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000431:Ethanol; D003345:Corticosterone; D008797:Metyrapone