Angiotensin II reduces alcohol intake and choice in water- or food-restricted rats

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of administration of the neuropeptide and hormone angiotensin II (AII) on ethanol intake and choice. First, 18 male Wistar rats were water deprived for 23 h and given access to 5% w/v ethanol for 30 min, followed by 30 min of access to water; food was ad lib. Following adaptation to this schedule, rats were randomly assigned to receive an IP injection of 0, 100, or 200 μg/kg of AII at either −30 or 0 min prior to ethanol access. Each AII injection decreased ethanol intake only if injected immediately before access; water and food intake were unaffected. Secondly, rats were given food daily at 2% of body weight with ad lib water and randomly assigned to receive either only water or 4% w/v ethanol ad lib on alternate days. Following adaptation, rats were randomly assigned to receive IP saline or 200 μg/kg of AII prior to presentation of a choice of ethanol or water for 1 h. AII reduced ethanol intake and increased water intake at 0–30 min after injection. Results confirm previous reports of inhibition of alcohol consumption by peripheral AII, and indicate a temporal constraint on AII's effect, which is consistent with a role as a short-term satiety factor.