Cesium and rubidium salts: effects on voluntary intake of ethanol by the rat

The effects of RbCl and CsCl on voluntary intake of ethanol solution by rats preferring ethanol solution 5% (w/w) over water as the drinking fluid was studied as a function of the dose given and the vehicle injected. Administration of RbCl or CsCl, 0.5 mEq/kg/day or 1.5 mEq/kg/day for three consecutive days, did not alter amounts of ethanol consumed. Repeated administration of RbCl or CsCl, 3.0 mEq/kg/day for three days, produced some moderate reduction in ethanol consumption. Simultaneous injection of RbCl (1.5 mEq/kg) and CsCl (1.5 mEq/kg) resulted in greater and profound lasting decrease in ethanol drinking. The later treatment did not alter specific activities of rat liver alcohol- and aldehyde dehydrogenase from saline treated controls. In general, dissolving the chloride salt of the alkali metals in saline resulted in greater effects on ethanol drinking than that determined after identical dose injected with water as the vehicle. The possible mechanism(s) underlying the effects of alkali metal salts used are suggested.