Abstract
Drugs which increase brain levels of serotonin (5-HT) have frequently been found to cause a decrease in voluntary ethanol consumption. Results obtained with parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA), which decreases 5-HT, have been less consistent. The present investigation compared the effects of pCPA on alcohol selection with those of pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor which increases brain levels of 5-HT. Ingestion of a 10% ethanol solution was assessed in male C57BL/6J mice given daily injections of 250 or 300 mg/kg pCPA, 50 mg/kg pargyline, or saline. An additional control group received no treatment. A two-bottle preference procedure was employed, and ethanol and water intake were recorded during a pretreatment period (11 days), a treatment period (8 days), and a posttreatment period (10 days). Like other agents which increase 5-HT, pargyline produced a depression in ethanol intake which lasted beyond the time of drug administration. pCPA had no effect on ethanol ingestion either during the period of drug administration or afterwards.
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Sanders, B., Collins, A.C. & Wesley, V.H. Reduction of alcohol selection by pargyline in mice. Psychopharmacologia 46, 159–162 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421385
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421385