The effect of combined treatment with ethanol and imipramine or amitriptyline on rabbit EEG.

The effect of combination of imipramine or amitriptyline acute or chronic treatment with ethanol on EEG was studied in rabbits with electrodes chronically implanted into the frontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus and midbrain reticular formation. In addition, to study the effect of the treatment on development of tolerance to ethanol, a group of rabbits receiving ethanol with antidepressants was additionally injected iv with ethanol once a week. Single doses of both the antidepressants did not alter the effect of acute administration of ethanol on EEG, but imipramine and amitriptyline potentiated the ethanol-induced changes in the EEG recorded from the midbrain reticular formation in rabbits receiving ethanol chronically and in the period of abstinene.

Investigations of central interaction of ethanol and clonidine.

The combined effect of ethanol and clonidine on rabbit EEG, and the effect of clonidine on ethanol sleep in mice, as well as on acute ethanol toxicity were investigated. Moreover, the effect of clonidine on ethanol level in rabbit blood and in mouse brain and the combined effect of ethanol and clonidine on rabbit arterial blood pressure were evaluated. It has been found that clonidine intensifies the effect of ethanol in EEG and prolongs ethanol sleep.