Neonatal treatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine induces decrease in alcohol drinking in adult animals.
It has long been suggested that serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmitter system activity is associated with ethanol (ETOH) intake and dependence. The authors studied the effects of neonatal 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) lesions on voluntary alcohol drinking in adult Wistar rats. At 3 days after birth animals were pretreated with desipramine (DMI) and then given a bilateral injection of 5,7-DHT into lateral ventricles. Afterwards, the rats were kept under standard laboratory conditions until at least 2 months of age following which they were tested. 5,7-DHT induced a marked and permanent decrease in brain 5-HT content, measured in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum, but did not modify noradrenaline content in these structures. Lesioned animals, both males and females displayed lower preference for ETOH than sham-lesioned animals. Total fluid intake was significantly higher in 5,7-DHT-lesioned than sham-lesioned rats. A significant decrease in body weight was observed in 5,7-DHT-treated rats. This effect was not caused by a significant change in food intake. Both groups showed high preference for a 0.1% saccharin. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated that neonatal treatment with 5,7-DHT evoked long-lasting neurochemical changes and reduction of ETOH intake in adult rats. Neonatally 5,7-DHT-treated rats may be considered as a suitable model in further research on the relationship between the function of central 5-HT system and alcohol intake and dependence.
Jessa
M
M
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Nervous System, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warszawa, Poland.
Krzaścik
P
P
Kostowski
W
W
D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018490:Serotonin Agents; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine