Oral ethanol reinforcement in the rat: effect of the partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist RO15-4513.

The partial inverse benzodiazepine agonist RO15-4513 has been found to reverse the sedating and anti-conflict effects of acute ethanol administration. In non-food or fluid-deprived rats, orally self-administering 10% ethanol in an operant situation, RO15-4513 resulted in a dose-dependent suppression on ethanol intake. Doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg suppressed responding from approximately 25% to 60% respectively. A dose of 0.1 mg/kg had no significant effect upon responding. These findings were discussed in terms of the potential independence of brain mechanisms related to ethanol reinforcement and sedation.