Abstract
Rats, subsequent to having an extensive history of intake of alcoholic beverages, were placed on a schedule of water deprivation. Each day, they were given a 2-h opportunity to take either a 6% solution of ethanol (6 g of ethanol and 94 g of tap water for each 100 g of fluid) or water. Across daily opportunities, intakes of the ethanol solution and water stabilized, with rats taking about 1.0 g/kg of ethanol. Then, immediately prior to some sessions, rats were given injections of either placebo, or 1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg morphine. On days of administration of morphine, rats took considerably more ethanol than on days of placebo administration, with a mean increment of about 0.9 g/kg. This finding supports results of similar experiments and lends credence to the idea that differential functioning of endogenous opioid systems may be a salient feature of differential intake of alcoholic beverages.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Altshuler, H. L., Phillips, P. E., & Feinhandler, D. A. (1980). Alteration of ethanol self-administration by naltrexone. Life Sciences, 26, 679–688.
Bertino, M., Abelson, M. A., Marglin, S. M., Neuman, R., Burkhardt, C. A., & Reid, L. D. (in press). A small dose of morphine increases intake of and preference for isotonic saline among rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior.
Calcagnetti, D. J., & Reid, L. D. (1983). Morphine and acceptability of putative reinforcers. Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior, 18, 567–569.
Czirr, S. A., Hubbell, C. L., Milano, W. C., Frank, J. M., & Reid, L. D. (1987). Selected opioids modify intake of sweetened ethanol solution among female rats. Alcohol, 4, 157–160.
Czirr, S. A., & Reid, L. D. (1986). Demonstrating morphine’s potentiating effects on sucrose-intake. Brain Research Bulletin, 17, 639–642.
Hubbell, C. L., Czirr, S. A., Hunter, G. A., Beaman, C. M., LeCann, N. C., & Reid, L. D. (1986). Consumption of ethanol solution is potentiated by morphine and attenuated by naloxone persistently across repeated daily administrations. Alcohol, 3, 39–54.
Hubbell, C. L., Czirr, S. A., & Reid, L. D. (1987). Persistence and specificity of small doses of morphine on intake of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol, 4, 149–156.
Mudar, P. J., LeCann, N. C., Czirr, S. A., Hubbell, C. L., & Reid, L. D. (1986). Methadone, pentobarbitol, pimozide and ethanol intake. Alcohol, 3, 303–308.
Myers, W. D., Ng, K. T., Marzuki, S., Myers, R. D., & Singer, G. (1984). Alteration of alcohol drinking in the rat by peripherally self-administered acataldehyde. Alcohol, 1, 229–236.
Reid, L. D. (1985). Endogenous opioid peptides and regulation of drinking and feeding. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 42, 1099–1132.
Reid, L. D., & Hunter, G. A. (1984). Morphine and naloxone modulate intake of ethanol. Alcohol, 1, 33–37.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported, in part, by Grant AA 06212 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and, in part, by a grant from the Paul Beer Trust, administered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wild, K.D., Marglin, S.H. & Reid, L.D. Small doses of morphine enhance voluntary intake of a solution of only ethanol and water. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 26, 129–131 (1988). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334883
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334883