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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
A Method for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol in Rats without Water Deprivation, Saccharin Fading or Extended Access Training
Published on: January 29, 2017
Effect of naltrexone administration on short-term memory in chronically ethanol-treated outbred rats
I Okulicz-Kozaryn1, P Mikolajczak, E Kaminska
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Aims:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of naltrexone treatment for 21 consecutive days on short-term memory in ethanol-preferring and non-preferring outbred rats.
Methods:
Ethanol preferring, non-preferring and control Wistar rats were treated with naltrexone [0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.)] for 21 consecutive days. Short-term memory was assessed by using an olfactory social recognition test.
Results:
A single administration of naltrexone (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) to non-ethanol-treated animals facilitated social memory, whereas the drug did not affect short-term memory in either group of chronically ethanol-treated rats. Multiple naltrexone treatment also lowered alcohol intake in ethanol-preferring rats.
Conclusion:
Naltrexone-ethanol interaction does not seem to produce any negative effect on the short-term memory in outbred rats.
