EFFECTS OF BROMOCRIPTINE ON THE VOLUNTARY CONSUMPTION OF ETHANOL, WATER, AND SOLID FOOD BY UCHA AND UCHB RATS

The effect of bromocriptine (stimulant of dopaminergic D-2 receptors) on the daily consumption of 10% v/v ethanol solution. distilled water, and solid food, under free-choice conditions, was measured in nine ge netically low (UChA) and six high ethanol consumer (UChB) adult female rats. Animals were housed in individual cages and maintained at room temperature of 23+/-1 degrees C and with 12/12 h dark/light rhythm. Th e consumption of ethanol solution, water, and solid food was measured in pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment periods of 3 days (Tuesd ay through Thursday) of 3 consecutive weeks. During the treatment peri od rats received daily a single oral dose of 8 mg of bromocriptine mes ylate (Sandoz) suspended in 1 ml of water per kg of body weight. Data analysis was performed with a method previously reported, which allows to recognize specific effect of ethanol intake, depurated from the ef fects on calories and/or water consumption. Results showed that all UC hB rats decreased significantly and specifically the consumption of et hanol solution during the treatment period compared to the pretreatmen t period (mean: -58+/-15%) and recovered the pretreatment consumption in the posttreatment period, without significant changes in the consum ption of food and/or total water. The only significant change observed in UChA rats was a decrease of the consumption of solid food (mean: - 15+/-5%). Results are consistent with the idea that a dopaminergic D-2 synapsis participates in the neural network responsible for satiation with ethanol.