Substitution of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors fluoxetine and paroxetine for the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol in rats.
Rats trained to discriminate ethanol (EtOH, 1 g/kg IP) from saline in a two-lever procedure completely generalized to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine and paroxetine. Substitution of fluoxetine was completely blocked by the selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL 100,907 and not affected by the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635. It is suggested that the previously reported effectiveness of SSRIs in reducing EtOH consumption could be based on similarities in discriminative stimulus effects of SSRIs and EtOH. Stimulation of 5-HT2A receptors may underlie these stimulus similarities and contribute to the EtOH intake-reducing effects of SSRIs.
Maurel
S
S
Institute for Neurobiology, Troponwerke GmbH & Co. KG, Köln, Neurather Ring 1, Germany.
Schreiber
R
R
De Vry
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017374:Paroxetine; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors