Effect of Naltrexone and Olanzapine on Alcohol Consumption of C57BL-6 Type Rats

Yun, Ki Beom; Kwon, Young Joon; Han, Sang Woo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study compared the effects of opioids antagonist naltrexone and serotonin-dopamine recepter antagonist olanzapine on the reduction of alcohol consumption level of alcohol intake reinforced C57BL-6 type rat.
METHODS
Small amount of alcohol and water were applied to the 28 rats for 2 hours per day during 30 days. On the 31th day, The rats were divided into four groups and given different medications by intraabdominal route 30 minutes before the alcohol consumption. For the next 35 days, the 3 subject group were applied with naltrexone 5mg/kg, olanzapine 0.1mg/kg and olanzapine 1.0mg/kg and the control group with distilled water everyday.
RESULTS
In contrast to control group, naltrexone 5mg/kg group showed a significant reduction of alcohol consumption after 4 weeks. Olanzapine 0.1mg/kg group showed a decrease of alcohol consumption from 2 to 5 week period. Although olanzapine 1mg/kg group showed a momentary decrease of the consumption during the 2nd and 3rd weeks, the group did not show significant decrease afterwards. Olanzapine 0.1mg/kg was more effective in reducing the alcohol consumption than olanzapine 1mg/kg. However, it is not significantly more effective compared to the naltrexone 5mg/kg in reducing the alcohol consumption of the reinforced rats' alcohol intake.
CONCLUSION
This results suggest that the low dose of olanzapine as well as naltrexone reduce the alcohol intake in C57BL-6 type rats.