Abstract
Previous studies show that harman (1-methyl-β-carboline) induces voluntary alcohol drinking in rats when it is administered systemically or ICV. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the long-term infusion of harman into the dorsal hippocampus evokes drinking of alcohol in the genetically bred low alcohol drinking (LAD) rat. Following a standard 3-30% alcohol preference test, a cerebral cannula was implanted in the dorsal hippocampus in each of 18 rats. The cannula was attached to an osmotic minipump which delivered vehicle or harman at a rate of 1.0 or 3.0 μg/h for a period of 14 days. Four days after surgery, all rats underwent a second 3-30% alcohol preference test. Both doses of harman increased the voluntary intake of ethanol to the same extent, particularly in 11 - 30% concentrations, and enhanced the daily intake of food. Hippocampal tissue levels of 5-HT and norepinephrine were elevated in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that the long-term exposure of hippocampal neurons to harman induces a preference for alcohol even in a line of rats without a genetic predisposition. This drinking response paralleled increased levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the hippocampus. Supported by NIAAA Grant AA 04200-10.
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Adell, A., Myers, R. Intrahippocampal Infusion Of The β-Carboline Harman In LAD Rats Increases Alcohol Drinking And Hippocampal Levels Of Serotonin And Norepinephrine. Neuropsychopharmacol 11, 264 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380128
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1380128