CYANAMIDE ON ETHANOL INTAKE - HOW DOES IT REALLY WORK

Cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, has been shown to supp ress voluntary ethanol consumption in animals. Studies were carried ou t to compare the effect of cyanamide on ethanol, saccharin-quinine and water intake in a restricted (10 min) access and in a free-choice non restricted access paradigm. An immediate and constant increase in flui d consumption was observed in the restricted access schedule paradigm independent of the fluid tested as cyanamide affected the consumption of all fluids including water. In the nonrestricted access study, cyan amide significantly increased total fluid intake. However, while sacch arin-quinine-drinking animals treated with cyanamide demonstrated no c hange in intake preference, ethanol consumption was suppressed with a concomitant decrease in preference for ethanol. The present findings s uggested that cyanamide may possess at least two, paradigm-specific, i ndependent properties. It may enhance the consumption of fluid in gene ral; however, it may also have a specific effect on ethanol intake whe n animals have continuous ethanol availability.