The suppressing effect of acamprosate (calcium-acetyl homotaurinate) o
n alcohol drinking is well established; however, little is known about
its effects upon the alcohol-induced withdrawal syndrome. Male Wistar
rats received as a sole drinking fluid a 20% (v/v) alcohol solution f
or one week. Animals consumed on average 5.3 +/- 0.3 g/kg per day alco
hol, which resulted in blood alcohol levels of 38 +/- 14 mg/dl. For th
e quantification of alcohol withdrawal we used a new radio-telemetric
system which enabled us to monitor body temperature, locomotor activit
y, food and water intake patterns constantly during alcohol withdrawal
. Although alcohol intake and the resulting blood alcohol levels were
low, clear signs of withdrawal could be observed. Thus, hyperthermia a
nd hyperlocomotion occurred 18 h after the termination of forced alcoh
ol drinking. Food intake was initially enhanced but dropped significan
tly below basal food intake in control animals one day after the termi
nation of forced alcohol drinking. Acamprosate given twice a day (200
mg/kg, i.p., 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) reduced hyperlocomotion and food intak
e significantly in the alcohol withdrawal animals, however, it did not
change withdrawal-induced hyperthermia. When acamprosate was given to
alcohol-naive animals, it increased locomotor activity and body tempe
rature transiently, in particular during the rats' active night phase.
In summary, (i) the radio-telemetric system used in the present study
proved to be a very sensitive method for quantifying alcohol-induced
withdrawal symptoms; (ii) acamprosate reduced alcohol-induced physical
signs of withdrawal, however, this effect could not be observed for a
ll parameters measured, which might be explained by the fact that (iii
) acamprosate exerts a slight, transient psychomotor stimulant effects
by itself.