Risperidone reduces limited access alcohol drinking in alcohol-preferring rats

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 468; no. 2; pp. 121 - 127
• Main Authors: Ingman, Kimmo, Honkanen, Aapo, Hyytiä, Petri, Huttunen, Matti O., Korpi, Esa R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 09.05.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol preference; Alcoholism - drug therapy; Animals; Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage; Antipsychotic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Food consumption; Locomotor activity; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity - drug effects; Rats; Risperidone; Risperidone - administration & dosage; Risperidone - pharmacology; Saccharin; Selected rat line; Self Administration; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; Selected rat line; Alcohol preference; Risperidone; Food consumption; Locomotor activity
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-2999(03)01669-8

An atypical antipsychotic drug risperidone reduced ethanol drinking of ethanol-preferring Alko, Alcohol (AA) rats in a limited access paradigm. Its effect was transient at a dose known to preferentially antagonize the 5-HT 2 receptors (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), but long-lasting when the dose was increased to 1.0 mg/kg that also blocks dopamine D 2 receptors. Risperidone also reduced dose-dependently locomotor activity and limited access saccharin intake of the AA rats, indicating that its effect on ethanol drinking was not selective. Risperidone at 0.1 mg/kg given before four successive daily ethanol-drinking sessions significantly reduced the ethanol intake. These data from an animal model of high ethanol intake suggest that risperidone should be tested in various populations of alcoholics for reducing ethanol consumption.