Thyrotropin releasing hormone decreases alcohol intake and preference in rats

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) has been reported to reduce stress- and deprivation-induced eating, hypothetically by induction of satiation. Early work demonstrated thyroid extracts reduced alcohol intake, and recent research shows a TRH analog specifically inhibits alcohol preference. We determined whether parenteral administration of TRH reduces alcohol consumption and choice in a manner consistent with a satiation effect. Water-restricted ad lib fed female and male rats (n = 12) were given access to 5% w/v ethanol 0 or 30 minutes after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of TRH. TRH (20-40 mg/kg) inhibited alcohol intake only if injected immediately before alcohol access. Inhibition of alcohol intake was reliably accompanied by increased production of fecal boli but not by reliably decreased food intake. Rats given a choice of 2% w/v ethanol and water decreased alcohol preference after TRH (20 mg/kg) but did not reduce total fluid intake. Results are partially consistent with the hypothesis of TRH as one of several functional elements in the integrative neuropeptide control of alcohol consumption via short-term satiation.