F. Lallemand et P. Dewitte, L-NNA DECREASES CORTICAL VASCULARIZATION, ALCOHOL PREFERENCE AND WITHDRAWAL IN ALCOHOLIC RATS, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 58(3), 1997, pp. 753-761
Rats, which were made chronically alcoholic in combination with L-N-o-
nitro-arginine (L-NNA) treatment (5 mg/kg/day), a nitric oxide (NO) sy
nthase inhibitor, showed a significant decrease in their alcohol prefe
rence and hypermotility during the withdrawal period by comparison wit
h chronically alcoholic rats. However, no difference in the global liq
uid consumption between treated and untreated rats during the withdraw
al stage was identified. In addition, the hypervascularization of the
cortical area observed after chronic alcoholism was significantly decr
eased in the rats that had received L-NNA during the alcoholism proced
ure and was comparable to control rats. Thus, L-NNA alters both the be
havioral preference for alcohol after alcoholism and the hypermotility
during alcohol withdrawal, thus supporting the hypothesis of a direct
implication of NO in alcohol abuse and its withdrawal. (C) 1997 Elsev
ier Science Inc.