NITROUS OXIDE ACUTELY SUPPRESSES ETHANOL CONSUMPTION IN HAD AND P RATS

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) has been reported to reduce post-withdrawal craving in alcoholic humans, aiding in their continued abstinence. This article assessed the ability of N₂O to suppress alcohol drinking in genetically selected high alcohol-drinking (HAD) and alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Although water was available ad libitum, they were accustomed to a limited access (1 h/day) choice between 10% ethanol (EtOH) and water. When drinking stabilized, the rats were exposed for 30, 60, or 120 min to a mixture of N₂O and pure oxygen, timed to end 1 h before the limited access. N₂O suppressed EtOH consumption at 1, but not 25 h after exposure in both HAD and P rats. This result is consistent with the efficacy of N₂O for acute reduction of EtOH drinking, and supports further research into the use of N₂O as an adjunct to treatment.

Keywords:

• alcoholism
• drinking
• genetic models
• nitrous oxide
• pharmacotherapy
• rat