Effect of topiramate treatment on ethanol consumption in rats.
BACKGROUND
Results from clinical studies have shown that topiramate effectively reduces alcohol consumption in a population of heavy-drinking alcohol-dependent humans.


OBJECTIVE
We undertook this preclinical study in order to establish topiramate's efficacy in a rodent model and to determine whether topiramate's efficacy may vary with level of drinking and/or genetic background.


METHODS
The effects of acutely administered topiramate (0, 5, and 10 mg/kg) on ethanol consumption were examined in a large group of ethanol-preferring (P) rats (N = 20) in order to assess the relationship between level of consumption and treatment effect using a two-bottle free-choice paradigm (10% ethanol versus water). We also evaluated the effects of topiramate in two groups of Wistar rats that were given access to ethanol under either the standard two-bottle free-choice paradigm or under conditions that are known to produce higher levels of daily ethanol consumption (i.e. three-bottle free choice).


RESULTS
Topiramate treatment produced a modest, but persistent (average of 5 days), reduction in ethanol consumption in P rats, and this effect did not vary with level of consumption. Topiramate did not affect ethanol consumption in either group of Wistar rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study establish in a rodent model that topiramate effectively and persistently reduces ethanol consumption and suggests that its efficacy may depend on genetic vulnerability but not level of drinking.
Breslin
Florence J
FJ
Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia Health System, 1670 Discovery Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22911, USA.
Johnson
Bankole A
BA
Lynch
Wendy J
WJ
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077236:Topiramate
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D000431:Ethanol