Alcohol drinking in the rat: Increases following intracerebroventricular treatment with tetrahydro-β-carbolines

Voluntary alcohol intake has been reported to increase in rats after the repeated intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (THBC) and some tetrahydroisoquinolines, although negative results have also been reported. THBC is a normal constituent in human plasma and platelets; 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (1-Me-THBC), however, occurs in the blood after a person drinks alcohol. We have evaluated the effects of two doses of THBC and 1-Me-THBC on voluntary alcohol consumption in rats. ICV infusions were given with Alzet® minipumps for 14 days rather than giving repeated ICV injections. Stability of the drugs in the pump was verified using mass spectrometry. On each day the rats chose between water, alcohol (increasing concentrations from 3 to 30%) and an empty bottle. Alcohol intake increased by about 100%(p<0.05) during the last six days when 47 nmoles/hr of either THBC or 1-Me-THBC was infused. At the end of the experiment elevated blood concentrations of alcohol (0.02–0.78%) were found in rats belonging to the THBC or 1-Me-THBC groups and drinking 30% alcohol. The infusion of 0.47 nmoles/hr of either drug did not increase alcohol intake as compared to control.