Abstract
An alcohol withdrawal syndrome characterized by the successive appearance of hyperactivity and tremors, muscle spasticity and, in some animals, generalized convulsions was induced in rats. It was obtained by the administration to rats whose weight had been previously reduced, of a liquid diet containing 45% of alcohol for a period of 3 weeks. The establishment of a state of physical dependence increased the incidence of withdrawal symptoms in a subsequent period of alcoholization. The administration of the 45% alcohol liquid diet during a 4-day period did not induce any noticeable withdrawal symptomatology in animals not previously exposed to alcohol. On the other hand, when previously alcoholdependent animals were subjected to the same procedure, 50% of them demonstrated a severe withdrawal symptomatology.
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Branchey, M., Rauscher, G. & Kissin, B. Modifications in the response to alcohol following the establishment of physical dependence. Psychopharmacologia 22, 314–322 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406870
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406870