Valproate reduces intake of alcoholic beverage among rats

A series of experiments was carried out to assess the effects of valproate (VAL) on the intake of ethanol by rats. In Experiment 1, the effects of VAL (150 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) were assessed across 10 days. Compared with cont rols, the 200 mg/kg dose reliably reduced intake of ethanol while also reli ably increasing intake of water. The 150 mg/kg dose did not reliably reduce the intake of ethanol across the initial days, but it did across later day s. Neither dose affected the total intake of fluids. Similarly, 5 days of o ral dosing with VAL (400 and 600 mg/kg) reliably reduced the intake of etha nol without affecting the intake of water. However, body weights were reduc ed by the oral doses across the procedure. In another procedure, VAL (200 m g/kg, i.p.) produced a mild conditioned taste aversion to a saccharin solut ion, suggesting that VAL may reduce intake of ethanol because it produces a general malaise. However, this dose of VAL enhanced the intoxicating effec ts of ethanol (2.0 g/kg). Overall, the results are equivocal with respect t o VAL as a potential medicine for treating alcohol misuse and alcoholism Be hav Pharmacol 1998; 9:683-689 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.