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  • Title: Effect of naloxone on appetitive and consummatory phases of ethanol self-administration.
    Author: Sharpe AL, Samson HH.
    Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res; 2001 Jul; 25(7):1006-11. PubMed ID: 11505025.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The opioid system has been implicated in ethanol self-administration. Morphine, an opiate agonist, can sometimes increase the amount of ethanol consumed, and opiate antagonists such as naloxone and naltrexone decrease the amount of ethanol consumed in both animals and humans. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of naloxone on appetitive (or seeking) and consummatory behaviors by using an operant model developed to separate these two phases of self-administration. METHODS: Intraperitoneal injections of naloxone (0.3-10 mg/kg) or vehicle were given before operant self-administration sessions to assess the effect on lever pressing (appetitive behavior) and subsequent consumption. Effects were measured in two groups of rats: one self-administered a 3% sucrose solution and the other a 10% ethanol solution. RESULTS: Naloxone dose-dependently decreased ethanol and sucrose consumption by an earlier cessation of drinking in the session compared with vehicle injection days. There were some effects on appetitive responding after treatment with naloxone, but none was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Naloxone may decrease ethanol self-administration by decreasing the postingestive or pharmacological effects of alcohol. This model provides a new method for examining the effects of potential pharmacotherapeutics on alcohol self-administration behavior.
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