Effects of fluvoxamine on ethanol-reinforced behavior in the rat

Serotonergic deficiencies have been associated with alcoholism, and increas ing serotonin function has been reported to decrease ethanol consumption. I n this study, we examined the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake i nhibitor, fluvoxamine, upon ethanol self-administration in the rat, and as a test of specificity also examined the effects of fluvoxamine upon food-ma intained behavior. Fluvoxamine decreased ethanol-maintained (0.1 mi per dip per presentation, 4-32% w/v ethanol) behavior at lower doses than the doses needed to decrease food-maintained (2 x 45-mg pellet) behavior. Examinatio n of the behavioral interactions of ethanol and fluvoxamine upon food-maint ained behavior showed that these observations did not result from synergist ic behavioral actions that would occur during ethanol-maintained, but not f ood-maintained, behavior. Also, fluvoxamine did not alter the potency or ef ficacy of ethanol to occasion ethanol-appropriate responding in rats traine d to discriminate 1.2 g/kg ethanol from vehicle. These findings suggest tha t fluvoxamine has specific actions upon the reinforcing effects of ethanol.