title: Nitrous oxide acutely suppresses ethanol consumption in HAD and P rats.
abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been reported to reduce post-withdrawal craving in alcoholic humans, aiding in their continued abstinence. This article assessed the ability of N2O to suppress alcohol drinking in genetically selected high alcohol-drinking (HAD) and alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Although water was available ad libitum, they were accustomed to a limited access (1 h/day) choice between 10% ethanol (EtOH) and water. When drinking stabilized, the rats were exposed for 30, 60, or 120 min to a mixture of N2O and pure oxygen, timed to end 1 h before the limited access. N2O suppressed EtOH consumption at 1, but not 25 h after exposure in both HAD and P rats. This result is consistent with the efficacy of N2O for acute reduction of EtOH drinking, and supports further research into the use of N2O as an adjunct to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ann E K
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kosobud
authors.forename: Clara E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kebabian
authors.forename: George V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Rebec
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000431:Ethanol; D009609:Nitrous Oxide