Effects of alprazolam on the free-choice ethanol consumption induced by isolation stress in aged rats

Late-onset drinking is a common problem in elderly people related to stress induced by social isolation. Experiments were performed in order to evalua te the effects of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine agonist anxiolytic, on the f ree-choice ethanol consumption in aged rats subjected to isolation stress. The animals we offered a two-bottle choice consumption (one of 0.2% sacchar in and the other with 10% ethanol / 0.2% saccharin) and then exposed to 4 d ays of isolation stress on an irregular, unpredictable schedule. Stress res ulted in significant increase in ethanol consumption. Treatment with alpraz olam (1 mg/Kg) partially reversed this adverse effect of stress. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Inc.