Reduction of alcohol selection by pargyline in mice

Drugs which increase brain levels of serotonin (5-HT) have frequently been found to cause a decrease in voluntary ethanol consumption. Results obtained with parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA), which decreases 5-HT, have been less consistent. The present investigation compared the effects of pCPA on alcohol selection with those of pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor which increases brain levels of 5-HT. Ingestion of a 10% ethanol solution was assessed in male C57BL/6J mice given daily injections of 250 or 300 mg/kg pCPA, 50 mg/kg pargyline, or saline. An additional control group received no treatment. A two-bottle preference procedure was employed, and ethanol and water intake were recorded during a pretreatment period (11 days), a treatment period (8 days), and a posttreatment period (10 days). Like other agents which increase 5-HT, parygyline produced a depression in ethanol intake which lasted beyond the time of drug administration. pCPa had no effect on ethanol ingestion either during the period of drug administration or afterwards.