Long-Term Ethanol Alcoholization Decreases Levodopa- Induced Aggressive Behavior in Rats

Abstract

One of the old but still unsolved problems in psychiatry is the treatment of patients with a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and alcoholism. Numerous clinical studies failed to explain unambiguously the mechanisms of formation of these comorbid disorders. Experimental modeling of dual disorders was carried out using a model of schizophrenia based on the impaired development and dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. To model comorbid experimental schizophrenia and alcohol abuse, the dopamine precursors, Levodopa/Carbidopa (LC), were used in combination with 15% ethanol. The aim of this study was to investigate social behavior of rats receiving LC and exposed to intermittent semi-compulsory alcoholization. After three months of the experiment, there were significantly more interactions (including aggressive–attacks, fights, bites) and submissive postures in the group of rats that received LC. Combined LC/ethanol administration did not alter rat social behavior in contrast to ethanol administered alone.