Alcohol drinking in the rat after destruction of serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons in the brain.

Rats were offered solutions of ethyl alcohol that were increased in strength from 3-30% concentration over a 12 day interval. Then, 50 mug 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT), 200 mug 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), or 100 mug 5, 7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) were injected acutely into the lateral cerebral ventricle in a 20 mul volume. The selection of ethyl alcohol was enhanced following the lesioning of serotonergic neurons by 5,6-DHT in terms of preference-aversion curves as well as the gm/kg intakes. Conversely, a similar destruction of dopamine and norepinephrine containing neurons by 6-OHDA marked suppressed alcohol preference and the overall intake of this fluid. 5,7-DHT had an intermediary effect of alcohol intake. These findings support the concept that the selection or rejection of alcohol may depend on an imbalance in the neuronal activity of either monoaminergic system in the brain of the rat.