Reduction of alcohol dependence in rats after carotid glomectomy.

Carotid glomectomy significantly reduced the degree of alcohol addiction in rats, which was induced over 12 weeks. After glomectomy, the mean weekly volume of alcohol consumed by alcoholic animals over 4 weeks was lower compared to the preoperation level, while water consumption significantly increased by the 3rd and 4th weeks after surgery. Control sham operation had no effect on ethanol and water consumption in alcoholic rats. Possible involvement of the local renin-angiotensin system in chemoreceptor cells of the carotid body into systemic mechanisms of alcohol dependence is discussed.