title: Dissociation between the locomotor and anxiolytic effects of acetaldehyde in the elevated plus-maze: evidence that acetaldehyde is not involved in the anxiolytic effects of ethanol in mice.
abstract: Acetaldehyde, the first product of ethanol metabolism, has been suggested to play a major role in many behavioral effects of ethanol. However, very few studies have directly tested the behavioral effects of the acute administration of acetaldehyde. In particular, the role of this metabolite in ethanol-induced anxiolytic effects has never been extensively tested. The aim of the present study was to characterize the anxiolytic effects of acetaldehyde in two strains of mice, C57BL/6J and CD1 mice with the elevated plus-maze procedure. The results show that acute injections of ethanol (1-2 g/kg) induced significant dose-dependent anxiolytic effects in both strains of mice. In contrast, acetaldehyde failed to produce any anxiolytic effect, although it induced a significant hypolocomotor effect at the highest doses. In an independent experiment, cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, prevented the locomotor stimulant effects of ethanol, although it failed to alter its anxiolytic effects. Together, the results of the present study indicate that acetaldehyde is not involved in ethanol-induced anxiolytic effects, although it may be involved in its sedative/hypolocomotor effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurosciences Comportementales et Psychopharmacologie, Université de Liège, Boulevard du Rectorat 5/B32, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tambour
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Didone
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quertemont
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003484:Cyanamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000431:Ethanol; D003484:Cyanamide; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D000079:Acetaldehyde