REDUCTION OF VOLUNTARY ETHANOL INTAKE IN ETHANOL-PREFERRING sP RATS BY THE CANNABINOID ANTAGONIST SR-141716

Abstract

The present study assessed the efficacy of the cannabinoid CB₁ receptor antagonist, SR-141716, in reducing voluntary ethanol intake in selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Ethanol (10%, v/v) and food were available in daily 4h scheduled access periods; water was present 24 h/day. The acute administration of a 2.5 and a 5 mg/kg dose of SR-141716 selectively reduced ethanol intake, whereas a 10 mg/kg dose of SR-141716 reduced to a similar extent both ethanol and food intake. These results suggest that the cannabinoid CB₁ receptor is involved in the mediation of the ethanol-reinforcing effects in sP rats.