Pyrithiamin shortens ethanol-induced narcosis and increases voluntary ethanol drinking in rats
Pekkanen, L.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 49(4): 386-390
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 549876 Document Number: 148055
To investigate the role of thiamine deficiency in increasing voluntary ethanol intake in rats, the effect of ethanol on the CNS was studied by measuring the duration of ethanol narcosis in pyrithiamine-treated rats. The duration of ethanol-induced narcosis was significantly shorter and blood ethanol concentration at the moment of righting reflex recovery was higher in pyrithiamine-treated rats than in controls. The shorter ethanol narcosis of pyrithiamine-treated rats was not a result of a change in ethanol metabolism but rather suggests changes in the central effects of ethanol. Treatment with thiamine-increased the duration of ethanol narcosis to the initial level in rats pretreated with pyrithiamine. During the same pyrithiamine treatment as used for the narcosis test voluntary ethanol intake of rats was higher than during optimal treatment by thiamine. Apparently there might be a decrease in central sensitivity to ethanol in pyrithiamine treated rats, which may have a role in increasing their voluntary ethanol drinking.