Effects of alcohol on the mouse-killing behavior of olfactory bulbectomized rats.
The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of alcohol on the olfactory bulbectomy (OBX)-induced mouse-killing behavior (MKB), an animal model for screening antidepressants. The rats were divided into three groups, which were given alcohol (0, 0.5, or 1 g/kg/day) orally for 28 days. MKB was analyzed before and at the end of each week of the alcohol treatment. The results showed that chronic alcohol treatment produced a significant increase in the latency of MKB, implying that alcohol may have an antidepressant-like activity. This suggests that alcohol dependence or abuse in depressed patients may result from "self-medication". Since it has been reported that OBX causes a decrease in the density of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain and that alcohol is a potent and selective inhibitor of NMDA receptors, the possible role of NMDA receptors in this effect is discussed.
Chiang
Chih-Yuan
CY
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yeh
Kuei-Ying
KY
Lin
Shih-Fan
SF
Hsuchou
Hung
H
Tai
Mei-Yun
MY
Ho
Ying-Jui
YJ
Tsai
Yuan-Feen
YF
D000437:Alcoholism; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000601:surgery*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats
D000438:Alcohols