A Re-evaluation of the Role of Tetrahydropapaveroline in Ethanol Consumption in Rats

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-15-2003

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The role of tetrahydropapaveroline (THP), a condensation product of a dopaldehyde with dopamine, in the regulation of alcohol consumption was investigated. In the first experiment, rats received intraventricular injections of either racemic THP hydrobromide (0.65 or 1.3 mug/mul), R-(+)-THP (0.66 or 1.4 mug/mul), or an equal volume of vehicle. The lower doses of both ()-THP and (+)-THP significantly increased volitional alcohol intake. For the racemic compound, the increase was significant at 7-13% concentrations. The R-(+)-enantiomer increased consumption at 4-11 and 15-20% concentrations of ethanol. The higher doses of both compounds did not significantly alter alcohol preference. A second experiment evaluated the chronic effect of THP delivered subcutaneously via osmotic minipump. Animals receiving THP (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/ml) did not differ in their alcohol intake, compared to vehicle-treated controls. Whether or not endogenously formed THP participates in the etiology of alcohol addiction remains unclear. Nonetheless, there are few known compounds that induce a preference for unsweetened alcohol solutions over water in laboratory animals. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Title

Brain Research Bulletin

Volume

60

Issue

41276

First Page

59

Last Page

65

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS