Noradrenaline and GABA brain receptors are co-involved in the voluntary intake of ethanol by rats.

Abstract

Stimulation of GABA brain receptors by calcium bis acetyl-homotaurine (a new GABAergic agent) or of noradrenergic brain receptors by metapramine reduces the voluntary intake of ethanol by rats. Bicuculline antagonizes the effects of both drugs. It is suggested that both GABA and noradrenaline are implicated in ethanol intake, and that there is a common final pathway of the two systems to modulate ethanol intake.