The effects of selective catecholamine depletions by 6-hydroxydopamine on ethanol preference in rats.
Two groups of ethanol-drinking rats were subjected to differential treatments with 6-hydroxydopamine in order to selectively destroy norepinephrine- and dopamine-containing neurons in the brain. Animals with extensive depletions of norepinephrine and dopamine produced by treatment with pargyline prior to 6-hydroxydopamine infusions showed a significant attenuation of preference for alcohol. However, where norepinephrine neurons were protected from the neurotoxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine by pretreatment with desmethylimipramine, the consequent effects on ethanol preference were not significant. It was suggested that catecholamines are involved in the mediation of ethanol self-administration with norepinephrine possibly playing the dominant role.
Brown
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Center for Research on Drug Dependence, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Sir George Williams Campus, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada.
Amit
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