ANGIOTENSIN-II REDUCES ALCOHOL INTAKE AND CHOICE IN WATER-RESTRICTED OR FOOD-RESTRICTED RATS

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of administration of the neuropeptide and hormone angiotensin II (AII) on ethanol intak e and choice. First, 18 male Wistar rats were water deprived for 23 h and given access to 5% w/v ethanol for 30 min, followed by 30 min of a ccess to water; food was ad lib. Following adaptation to this schedule , rats were randomly assigned to receive an IP injection of 0, 100, or 200 mu g/kg of AII at either -30 or 0 min prior to ethanol access. Ea ch AII injection decreased ethanol intake only if injected immediately before access; water and food intake were unaffected. Secondly, rats were given food daily at 2% of body weight with ad lib water and rando mly assigned to receive either only water or 4% w/v ethanol ad lib on alternate days. Following adaptation, rats were randomly assigned to r eceive LP saline or 200 mu g/kg of An prior to presentation of a choic e of ethanol or water for 1 h. AII reduced ethanol intake and increase d water intake at 0-30 min after injection. Results confirm previous r eports of inhibition of alcohol consumption by peripheral All. and ind icate a temporal constraint on AII's effect, which is consistent with a role as a short-term satiety factor.