The Role of Serotonin Depletion on the Behavioral Effects of Ethyl Alcohol

In the first experiment of this study p-Chloroamphetamine (PCA), a serotonin depletor, was given to experimental rats at least two days prior to aversive Pavlovian conditioning. Rats were subjected to aversive conditioning while drugged with ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and were tested for memory of the aversive stimuli later in the non-drugged state. Utilizing the auditory conditioned stimulus, ethanol-treated rats - PCA treated and nontreated combined - exhibited significantly less conditioned suppression of drinking than did saline controls. A priori comparisons demonstrated that PCA treated rats• ethanol-produced dissociation was greater than nontreated controls. Experiment two compared PCA treated and nontreated rats' activity levels under four dosage levels of ethanol. Activity counts were recorded at six 15-min. time intervals under all four ethanol levels. While activity was found to change significantly over time (starting high and gradually declining), ethanol and PCA factors were found to be nonsignificant. Serotonin depletion by pretreatment with PCA is interpreted as having a facilitating effect on ethanol-produced dissociation. Behavioral observation of intoxicated rats activity supported this same enhancement interpretation.