| Abstract [eng] |
Excessive alcohol consumption and genetic aspects can lead to alcohol dependence, one of the most common mental disorders in the world. There is considerable heterogeneity between humans and animals that are addicted to alcohol: their character, drinking style and how they respond to drug treatment differ. Due to the neurochemical effects of alcohol, alcohol dependence can be treated with pharmacotherapy that affects different neurochemical processes. In the first experiment 26 healthy rats were used and in the second experiment both female and male rats were used, i.e., 42 rats with pharmacologically induced behavioral impairments, using a rat neonatal depression model, and 39 control rats. Behavioral tests were performed in all rats: open field, social behavior, circadian activity, anhedonia, Porsolt swim test. Thereafter, all rats received free access to alcohol for 2 months; the drinking registration system (lickometers) was used to record fluid drinking habits. The healthy rat group was treated with lamotrigine and rats with pharmacologically induced differences, as well as their healthy control counterpart rats, were treated with melatonin. Anhedonia- and anxiety-like behaviour in healthy rats were correlating with higher amounts of voluntary consumed alcohol. It was found that lamotrigine treatment did not affect voluntary baseline alcohol consumption in healthy rats, but there was a trend towards better treatment effectiveness in rats with anhedonia-like symptoms. It has been also demonstrated that drinking style had a significant impact on the effectiveness of lamotrigine treatment. Stronger reduction in alcohol consumption was found in rats which had smaller alcohol drinking bouts and shorter interbout intervals. Melatonin was more effective in reducing alcohol intake in rats with pharmacologically induced behavioral differences. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the impact of interindividual differences on the effectiveness drug treatment with respect to changes in alcohol consumption. |
