5-HT1A RECEPTOR AGONISTS REDUCE ETHANOL-INDUCED LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY INMICE

Animal studies as well as clinical studies have suggested that the bra in 5-HT system is important for the regulation of voluntary ethanol in take and preference. Previous studies have suggested that 5-HT1A recep tor agonists may reduce ethanol preference in rats. In the present stu dy on mice, the 5-HT1A receptor agonists (8-OH-DPAT), ipsapirone, and buspirone all antagonized the locomotor activity (LMA) stimulatory eff ect of ethanol (2.5 g/kg). The present results provide further support for the notion that the LMA-increasing effect of ethanol may be homol ogous to its reinforcing properties and that 5-HT1A receptor agonists may counteract these properties as well.