Dihydroergotoxine (Hydergine) and alcohol induced variations in young and old mice

The residual effects of Hydergine, ethanol, and ethanol plus Hydergine were investigated in young and old male mice (C57 BL/6J). Prolonged 10% ethanol (v/v) or Hydergine (1 mg/kg, orally, 3 times per week) consumption concomitant with adequate nutrition was found to prolong hexobarbital sleeping time in the younger animals 2 weeks after treatment was discontinued. The combination of ethanol with Hydergine in the same doses as given alone resulted in no alteration over controls in mean hexobarbital sleeping time. Use of sodium barbital revealed a similar relationship between hypnotic effects and treatment and ethanol and/or Hydergine in 13.5 mo old mice but not in the 19.5 mo old mice after 5 mo of treatment. Concurrent treatment of the older nale mice with alcohol and Hydergine prevented the impairment in spontaneous activity caused by alcohol alone.