In one series of experiments, the effects of PPAR-γ agonists on multiple measures of alcohol drinking were examined. The PPAR-γ agonists pioglitazone and rosiglitazone decreased voluntary consumption of a 10% alcohol solution in rats genetically selected for high alcohol consumption when these rats were given a choice between the alcohol solution and water (73). This effect lasted the duration of the 7 day treatment phase and drinking returned to normal after the treatments were abated. Water consumption was unchanged while food intake was increased by pioglitazone but not rosiglitazone; this effect decreased over time. These results suggest that changes in alcohol intake were specific and not due to any general inhibition of feeding behavior. Similarly, when rats had to perform an operant task to receive alcohol, pioglitazone significantly reduced alcohol self-administration while lever pressing for saccharin was not modified. These results not only suggest a selective effect of PPAR-γ agonists on intake of alcohol, as opposed to natural reinforcers, they also suggest that decreases in alcohol self-administration were not due to a non-specific inhibition of behavior or a decrease in
