Effects of ventral striatal 6-OHDA lesions or amphetamine sensitization on ethanol consumption in the rat.
Female rats with continuous access to water and 6% ethanol were given bilateral ventral striatal 6-OHDA infusions, which induced pronounced striatal depletions of dopamine. The postoperative ethanol consumption of these rats was not significantly affected in comparison to vehicle-infused controls. In a second experiment, female rats received escalating doses of d-amphetamine over a 5-week period (from 1 to 9 mg/kg/injection). Control females were given saline injections. Following a 3-month drug-free interval, the females were given access to ethanol, the concentration of which was gradually increased from 2% to 12% with weekly intervals. Amphetamine-sensitized rats consumed significantly more alcohol than the saline-treated controls. Taken together, these results suggest that striatal dopaminergic mechanisms, while not necessary for basal ethanol drinking, can facilitate alcohol drinking.
Fahlke
C
C
Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Hansen
S
S
Engel
J A
JA
Hård
E
E
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D012701:Serotonin; D016627:Oxidopamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine