INHIBITION OF NITRIC-OXIDE FORMATION REDUCES VOLUNTARY ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION IN THE RAT

Brain nitric oxide is involved in the mechanisms that regulate ingesti ve behaviour. To test whether this compound plays a role in alcohol pr eference, we studied the effects of different doses of N-G-nitro-L-arg inine (L-NO arg), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on volu ntary consumption of ethanol and on blood alcohol levels produced by a single intraperitoneal dose of alcohol in the rat. L-NO arg produced a significant and dose-dependent reduction of ethanol intake (P < 0.00 1) without influencing total fluid consumption or feeding behaviour. L -NO arg did not influence the kinetics of alcohol. Our data show that inhibition of nitric oxide formation accompanies reduction of ethanol intake and suggest a possible role for nitric oxide in ethanol self-ad ministration.