INFLUENCE OF THE 5-HT1A RECEPTOR AGONIST IPSAPIRONE ON VOLUNTARY ALCOHOL INTAKE IN RATS

The effect of the azapirone derivative ipsapirone on anxiety and the f ree-choice consumption of alcohol was studied in male rats. Animals we re housed three in a cage with a different composition each day to inc rease anxiety. The animals were offered a two-bottle free choice consu mption of tap water or a 5% ethanol solution. Ipsapirone was given in the drinking fluid daily at about 10 mg/kg per day. As expected, socia l unstable groups exhibited a higher level of anxiety as compared to s ocial stable groups. Ipsapirone reduced significantly the anxiety in t he unstable group. Pretreatment with ipsapirone before alcohol exposur e resulted in a marked decrease of subsequent ethanol intake by about 45% as compared to drug free control animals. Administration of the dr ug to rats already drinking alcohol showed a similar decrease of ethan ol intake by about 50%. These results indicate that the relatively spe cific 5-HT1A receptor agonist ipsapirone, given orally, reduces anxiet y as well as alcohol initiation or maintenance in rats.