[Renin-angiotensin system in the mechanisms of alcohol motivation]

The role of angiotensins in the mechanism of alcohol motivation was studied. Angiotensins were shown to be capable of regulating not only thirst and salt appetite, but also alcohol intake by stimulation of alcohol consumption in non-alcohol-dependent rats and suppression of alcohol motivational excitation in alcohol-dependent rats. The mechanism of thirsty stimulation by angiotensins differs from that of their regulation of alcohol uptake. Angiotensins provoke thirst and salt appetite by activation of saralasin-sensitive classical angiotensin-II receptors while the regulation of ethanol intake by angiotensins is not mediated by the same receptors and realized through the participation of the common fragments for all endogenous angiotensins-[3-7]-angiotensin-II.