title: Effects of alprazolam on the free-choice ethanol consumption induced by isolation stress in aged rats.
abstract: Late-onset drinking is a common problem in elderly people related to stress induced by social isolation. Experiments were performed in order to evaluate the effects of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine agonist anxiolytic, on the free-choice ethanol consumption in aged rats subjected to isolation stress. The animals we offered a two-bottle choice consumption (one of 0.2% saccharin and the other with 10% ethanol/0.2% saccharin) and then exposed to 4 days of isolation stress on an irregular, unpredictable schedule. Stress resulted in significant increase in ethanol consumption. Treatment with alprazolam (1 mg/Kg) partially reversed this adverse effect of stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riveiro
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Miguel
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Quintans
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Legazpi
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mayán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rey-Méndez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freire-Garabal
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012934:Social Isolation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D000525:Alprazolam