Baclofen-induced suppression of alcohol deprivation effect in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats exposed to different alcohol concentrations

This study investigated the effect of the γ-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) receptor agonist, baclofen, on alcohol deprivation effect (the transient increase in alcohol intake occurring after a period of alcohol abstinence) in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats exposed to 4 bottles containing water and 10%, 20%, and 30% (v/v) alcohol, respectively. Acute administration of baclofen (1 mg/kg, i.p.) suppressed both aspects of alcohol deprivation effect: the extra-intake of alcohol and the selection of the highest concentrated alcohol solution. These results suggest that the GABAB receptor is part of the neural substrate mediating alcohol deprivation in sP rats.