Role of serotonin (5-HT) in tolerance to ethanol and barbiturates.

Previously it has been shown that chronic administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), slowed the development of tolerance to ethanol, pentobarbital and cross-tolerance development to ethanol in rats chronically treated with pentobarbital. These findings have been extended by the following observations: (1) p-CPA slowed the development of tolerance to barbital as measured by motor impairment on the moving belt test, without altering the acute response. (2) p-CPA also reduced the tolerance to barbital as measured by sleeping time, in animals chronically treated with pentobarbital. (3) Administration of L-tryptophan increased the rate of tolerance development to ethanol as measured by motor impairment and hypothermia. These results further confirm and extend the generality of our observations that 5-HT may be involved in the development of tolerance and cross-tolerance to sedatives.