Effects of alprazolam on the free-choice ethanol consumption induced by isolation stress in aged rats.
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.
Núñez
M J
MJ
Department of Nursing, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Riveiro
P
P
Becerra
M A
MA
De Miguel
S
S
Quintans
M R
MR
Núñez
L A
LA
Legazpi
M P
MP
Mayán
J M
JM
Rey-Méndez
M
M
Varela
M
M
Freire-Garabal
M
M
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*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D000525:Alprazolam