ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN RATS TREATED WITH LITHIUM-CARBONATE OR RUBIDIUM CHLORIDE

Wistar-NTRU rats, offered a free choice between tap water and a 10% ethanol solution (vol/vol) in the absence of reinforcement, were injected for 5 days with Li2 CO3, RbCl or placebo. Li treated group consumed 25% more liquid per day but chose to take 14.5% less alcohol than controls (P < 0.05). By contrast, Rb-treated animals consumed 15% less liquid but 70% more alcohol than control animals (P < 0.005). Rb-treated rats were strikingly more active than the other 2 groups: their motility index was 60.0, as compared to 33.6 for Li-treated and 29.4 for control rats. Serum glucose and urea nitrogen concentration were not significantly affected by the treatment but serum alcohol content was low in Li-treated and high in Rb-treated animals.