Neonatal antidepressant administration suppresses concurrent active (REM) sleep and increases adult alcohol consumption in rats.

Neonatal administration of desipramine, nomifensine and zimeldine suppressed concurrent active sleep and led to increased preference of alcohol as well as decreased concentrations of monoamines in the brain in adult rats. The findings suggest that early postnatal active sleep and the monoaminergic transmission regulating it are related to adult alcohol consumption.