Blockade by the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, SR 141716, of alcohol deprivation effect in alcohol-preferring rats.

The present study investigated the effect of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist, SR 141716 (N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazole-carboxamide), on alcohol deprivation effect (i.e. the temporary increase in alcohol intake after a period of alcohol withdrawal) in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. As expected, alcohol-deprived rats virtually doubled voluntary alcohol intake during the first hour of re-access. Acute administration of SR 141716 (0, 0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) completely abolished the alcohol deprivation effect. These results suggest that the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor is part of the neural substrate mediating the alcohol deprivation effect and that SR 141716 may possess anti-relapse properties.