[Participation of GABA in mediating the effects of ethanol in rats with differing susceptibility to the development of experimental alcoholism]. / Uchastie GAMK v oposredovanii éffektov etanola u krys s razlichnoi predraspolozhennost'iu k razvitiiu éksperimental'nogo alkogolizma.

The influence of ethanol and of GABA receptors blocker bicuculline on recovery cycles of primary response of the sensorimotor cortex was studied in rats with strong and weak inclination to development of experimental alcoholism. It is found that in rats of the first group, inhibition in the cerebral cortex was weakened in comparison with the rats of the second group. Ethanol in non-narcotic doses intensified the inhibitory processes and its effects could be prevented or suppressed by bicuculline. The conclusion is made about GABA participation in mediation of ethanol effects on inhibitory processes in the cerebral cortex.

[Effect of psychotropic substances on the development of alcoholic motivation in noninbred white rats]. / Vliianie psikhotropnykh veshchestv na formirovanie alkogol'noi motivatsii u besporodnykh belykh krys.

The experiments have shown the capacity of antidepressant amitriptylin (0.5 mg/kg, i. p.) and tranquilizer phenazepam (0.1 mg/kg i. p.) to normalize the adaptive behaviour and almost completely prevent the development of alcohol motivation in animals with insufficient adaptive behaviour. It was established that in animals initially rejecting alcohol, chronic treatment with these drugs as well as d-amphetamine promoted alcohol motivation. The results obtained have proved our earlier hypothesis that preclinical search for drugs for the prevention and treatment of early stages of alcoholism is possible only in animals pre-selected according to their inclination to experimental alcoholism.