The effects of selective catecholamine depletions by 6-hydroxydopamine on ethanol preference in rats.

Two groups of ethanol-drinking rats were subjected to differential treatments with 6-hydroxydopamine in order to selectively destroy norepinephrine- and dopamine-containing neurons in the brain. Animals with extensive depletions of norepinephrine and dopamine produced by treatment with pargyline prior to 6-hydroxydopamine infusions showed a significant attenuation of preference for alcohol. However, where norepinephrine neurons were protected from the neurotoxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine by pretreatment with desmethylimipramine, the consequent effects on ethanol preference were not significant. It was suggested that catecholamines are involved in the mediation of ethanol self-administration with norepinephrine possibly playing the dominant role.