CYANAMIDE ON ETHANOL INTAKE - HOW DOES IT REALLY WORK

Cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, has been shown to suppress voluntary ethanol consumption in animals. Studies were carried out to compare the effect of cyanamide on ethanol, saccharin-quinine and water intake in a restricted (10 min) access and in a free-choice nonrestricted access paradigm. An immediate and constant increase in fluid consumption was observed in the restricted access schedule paradigm independent of the fluid tested as cyanamide affected the consumption of all fluids including water. In the nonrestricted access study, cyanamide significantly increased total fluid intake. However, while saccharin-quinine-drinking animals treated with cyanamide demonstrated no change in intake preference, ethanol consumption was suppressed with a concomitant decrease in preference for ethanol. The present findings suggested that cyanamide may possess at least two, paradigm-specific, independent properties. It may enhance the consumption of fluid in general; however, it may also have a specific effect on ethanol intake when animals have continuous ethanol availability.