The role of dopamine neurotransmission in ethanol dependence development and ethanol withdrawal in rats

This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of acute doses of ethanol, chronic ethanol administration and the withdrawal syndrome on central dopaminergic neurotransmission in 700 rats. The ethanol effects were differentiated by their influence on D1 and D2 receptors using following dopaminergic ligands: SKF 38393 (2.5 mg/kg), SCH 23 390 (0.5 mg/kg), pimozide (1 mg/kg), PPHT (2 mg/kg). It was found that ethanol in a low single dose (1.0 g/kg p.o.) increased DA level in rats' brain. In chronic alcoholized rats SKF 38393 increased the D1 receptor answer in biochemical and behavioural experiments. During the withdrawal period in rats D2 agonist PPHT reversed abstinence symptoms whereas other DA antagonists normalized only some parameters altered by ethanol removal from the diet.