Effects of methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate on memory impairments induced by chronic alcohol consumption in mice.

1. The effects of systemic administration of beta CCMon the memory impairments induced by chronic alcohol consumption in a delayed alternation task were studied. 2. For this purpose, Balb/c mice were submitted to chronic alcohol treatment during 12 months and were subsequently withdrawn from the alcoholic diet at least four weeks before behavioral testing began. 3. Results showed that alcohol-treated animals exhibited a delayed alternation deficit that was totally reversed by the administration of beta CCM administered before the retention trial only. 4. These findings show that the memory deficits observed in alcohol-treated animals are due to an impairment of the retrieval phase of memory processes, and that retrieval memory processes are sensitive to benzodiazepine receptor ligands.