NYU Conference on Ibogaine Nov 5-6, 1999

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SUPPRESSANT EFFECTS OF IBOGAINE AND ITS PRIMARY METABOLITE ON ALCOHOL INTAKE IN THREE STRAINS OF ALCOHOL PREFERRING RATS.

Amir H. Rezvani, D.C. Mash, W.L. Hearn, D.H. Overstreet, Y.W. Lee
Center for Alcohol Studies and Department of Psychiatry, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7178, USA

Ibogaine (NIH 10567, ENDABUSE), has been shown to possess anti-addiction properties in experimental animals and humans. We investigated the effects of ibogaine on alcohol intake in three strains of alcohol preferring rats. Alcohol preferring (P), Fawn-Hooded (FH) and alcohol accepting (AA) rats were injected IP and SC with different doses (10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) ibogaine or vehicle for 5 consecutive days. Our data show that IP, but not SC, injection of ibogaine significantly and dose-dependently reduced alcohol intake without development of tolerance or significant effect on food or water intake. A single IP injection of 60 mg/kg ibogaine into FH rats did not affect the blood alcohol levels. We also found that noribogaine, a primary ibogaine metabolite which inhibits serotonin uptake, also reduces alcohol intake in P and FH rats. These findings suggest that ibogaine may exert its supressant effects on alcohol intake through its primary metabolite by modulating the central serotonergic system which has been implicated in alcohol drinking behaviors.

Correspondence: Amir H. Rezvani