Alpha-Lipoic Acid Reduces Ethanol Self-Administration in Rats.

Background The main system of central ethanol (EtOH) oxidation is mediated by the enzyme catalase. By reacting with H₂ O₂, brain catalase forms compound I (the catalase- H₂ O₂ system), which is able to oxidize EtOH to acetaldehyde ( ACD) in the brain. We have previously shown that ACD regulates EtOH motivational properties and possesses reinforcing effects by itself. In this study, we investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA), a scavenging agent for H₂ O₂, on oral EtOH self-administration. Methods To this end, we trained Wistar rats to orally self-administer EtOH (10%) by nose poking. The effect of intraperitoneal pretreatment with ALA was evaluated during (i) maintenance of EtOH self-administration, (ii) EtOH self-administration under a progressive ratio ( PR) schedule of reinforcement, and (iii) oral EtOH priming to induce reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior. Moreover, we tested the effect of ALA on saccharin (0.05%) reinforcement, as assessed by oral self-administration. Results The results indicate that ALA dose-dependently reduced the maintenance, the break point of EtOH self-administration under a PR and the reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior without suppressing saccharin self-administration. Conclusions These results support that ALA may have a potential use in alcoholism treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]