SUPPRESSING EFFECT OF THE CANNABINOID CB1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, SR147778, ON ALCOHOL INTAKE AND MOTIVATIONAL PROPERTIES OF ALCOHOL IN ALCOHOL-PREFERRING sP RATS

• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agh114
• Publication Date: 2004-12-07T01:14:10Z
• Authors: GIAN LUIGI GESSA; SALVATORE SERRA; GIOVANNI VACCA; MAURO A. M. CARAI; GIANCARLO COLOMBO
• Keywords: Alcohol intake; Rimonabant; Cannabinoid receptor antagonist

Aims: The present study investigated the effect of newly synthesized cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, SR147778, on alcohol intake and motivational properties in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Methods Results: In Experiment 1, repeated administration SR147778 (0.3–3 mg/kg twice daily, i.p.) specifically suppressed acquisition drinking behaviour alcohol-naive rats exposed to two-bottle ‘alcohol vs water’ choice regimen for 24 h/day. 2, an acute (2.5–10 mg/kg, reduced alcohol-experienced that were given water under daily sessions 4 h. 3, deprivation effect’, i.e. extra-intake occurring after a period abstinence. 4, extinction responding alcohol, maximal number lever responses reached absence trained lever-press (measure alcohol). 5, combination 3 (i.p.) 0.5 g/kg (i.p.), dose comparable with those usually consumed by sP each binge, failed induce any conditioned taste aversion. Conclusion: Taken together, these results extend anti-alcohol profile prototype rimonabant (SR141716), strengthen hypothesis is part neural substrate mediating alcohol.