Effects of neurohypophyseal peptide hormones on alcohol dependence and withdrawal.

The effect of oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (VP) on alcohol withdrawal was investigated. CFLP mice were treated with alternating daily injections of tert-butanol and ethanol for four days, which resulted in physical dependence on ethanol. The severity of withdrawal symptoms was assessed by picrotoxin. The lowest dose (0.02 IU) of each of the peptides precipitated tonic convulsions, while higher doses resulted in different tendencies. OXT-treated mice displayed milder withdrawal symptoms in response to increasing doses of peptide (0.2-2.0 IU). VP showed a U-shaped dose-response effect. The lowest (0.02 IU) and the highest (2.0 IU) doses increased the occurrence of withdrawal convulsions and the frequency of deaths.