Facilitation of ethanol consumption by intracerebroventricular infusions of corticosterone.

• Male Wistar rats bearing intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulae and with simultaneous access to 6% ethanol and water were subjected to adrenalectomy (ADX) or sham surgery. ADX decreased ethanol intake. Starting a few days later, the animals received ICV infusions with 100 micrograms corticosterone acetate (CORT) with 2-to 3-day intervals for 2 weeks. ICV CORT, but not SC CORT at the same dose, restored ethanol consumption in ADX rats to preoperative levels, whereas vehicle infusions (propylene glycol) did not. Adrenally intact animals, which normally consumed moderate amounts of ethanol (approximately 0.5 g/kg per day), also showed a robust effect of ICV infusions of CORT, whereas this facilitatory effect was not observed in high consumers (approximately 3.0 g/kg per day). The suppressive effect of ADX on ethanol intake was not reproduced by concurrent and repeated ICV infusions of intracellular mineralocorticoid (RU 28318) and glucocorticoid (mifepristone) receptor blockers. It is concluded that CORT stimulates alcohol consumption by acting in the brain, probably by way of neuronal membrane mechanisms.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adrenalectomy

Alcohol Drinking

Animals

Corticosterone

pharmacology

Drinking

drug effects

Injections

Intraventricular

Male

Mifepristone

pharmacology

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists

pharmacology

Rats

Rats

Wistar

Receptors

Glucocorticoid

antagonists & inhibitors

Spironolactone

analogs & derivatives

pharmacology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)