Effects of serotonin uptake blockade on food, water, and ethanol consumption in rats

Previous research has demonstrated that the serotonin uptake blocker, zimeldine, reduced voluntary ethanol consumption in rats and humans. It has been suggested that zimeldine interfered with the processes that mediate the reinforcement derived from ethanol ingestion. However, there are considerable data which suggest that serotonergic pharmacological agents may produce a general inhibition of food and fluid consumption. The present investigation was therefore designed to directly examine the effects of zimeldine on food intake. The results indicated that zimeldine had a potent anorexic action. Furthermore, the drug appeared to primarily affect food intake, with secondary decreases in the fluid most closely associated with prandial drinking. The results were discussed in terms of the effects of serotonin uptake blockade on motivational processes in general.