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Drug discrimination studies in rats with caffeine and phenylpropanolamine administered separately and as mixtures.

The discriminative stimulus effects of mixtures of caffeine and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) have been investigated because these drugs have been abused together. Rats were trained to discriminate caffeine (20 mg/kg), PPA (20 mg/kg), or a mixture of both drugs, from saline in a two-bar operant conditioning procedure with food reinforcers presented on a tandem VI-FR schedule. Discriminations of mixture, caffeine alone and PPA alone were 90% accurate after 40 sessions. Generalisation to both PPA and caffeine was weak (25-47%) at the doses used in the training mixture, although there was almost complete generalisation to larger doses of PPA. Under these conditions, there was a possible synergistic interaction between caffeine and PPA because the discriminative effect of the mixture could not be fully explained by the combined effects of its component drugs. However, in rats trained on caffeine, PPA had no effect on the dose-response relationship for caffeine; similarly, in rats trained on PPA, caffeine had no effect on the dose-response relationship for PPA (no synergism or antagonism). Generalisation to (+)-amphetamine and cocaine was weakest in rats trained on caffeine, was partial in rats trained on the mixture, and was complete in rats trained on PPA; thus, the mixture of caffeine and PPA was not more like cocaine or amphetamine than PPA alone. The results are in agreement with reports that caffeine and PPA may interact in a complex manner, but do not support the view that the interaction enhances their resemblance to highly abused stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine.

Animals↗

Serotonin 5-HT3 antagonists do not alter the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine.

The central nervous system (CNS) of the rat is known to contain serotonin (5-HT) type -3 receptors (5-HT3). Behavioral evidence suggests that 5-HT3 receptors interact with mesolimbic dopamine (DA) systems and that 5-HT3 antagonists can interfere with the hyperlocomotive effects of amphetamine and cocaine and the rewarding and stimulus effects of morphine, nicotine and ethanol. Cocaine, which blocks the reuptake of DA, norepinephrine (NE), and 5-HT in the CNS, also may be an antagonist at 5-HT3 receptors. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether systemic administration of the 5-HT3 antagonists ICS 205930 or MDL 72222 could mimic or block the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine. Once rats (N = 16) were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline, substitution tests with various doses of cocaine (0.313-10 mg/kg), ICS 205930 (2-24 mg/kg), and MDL 72222 (2-16 mg/kg) were conducted. Cocaine produced a dose-related increase in cocaine-appropriate responding while the 5-HT3 antagonists engendered primarily saline-lever responding. Neither ICS 205930 nor MDL 72222 were able to antagonize the stimulus effects of cocaine (5 mg/kg). Response rates were not significantly reduced when the 5-HT3 antagonists were given in combination with cocaine. The results indicate that although 5-HT3 antagonists can inhibit some of the unconditioned behavioral effects of psychomotor stimulants, the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine remain intact.

Animals↗

Differentiation between the stimulus effects of (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide and lisuride using a three-choice, drug discrimination procedure.

The discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and lisuride hydrogen maleate (LHM), were compared in a three-choice, water reinforced (FR 20) situation in which rats were required to press one lever following LSD (0.08 mg/kg), a second lever following LHM (0.04 mg/kg), and a third lever following saline. Reliable drug-appropriate responding was established in 72 sessions. Dose-response tests with LSD and LHM indicated that, as dose increased, the per cent of responding on the lever associated with the particular training drug also increased; little or no cross-transfer occurred between LSD and LHM. In generalization tests, the serotonin (5-HT) agonist quipazine substituted for LSD but not LHM while the dopamine (DA) agonist apomorphine mimicked LHM but not LSD; an unrelated compound, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), produced responding on the saline-appropriate lever. In combination tests, 5-HT antagonists (e.g., BC-105 and low doses of pirenperone) blocked responding on the LSD lever while DA antagonists (e.g., haloperidol and much higher doses of pirenperone) blocked LHM-appropriate responding. These data suggest that the three-lever (D-D-N) procedure is similar to, but can be more sensitive than the two-lever (D-N) procedure (because it can differentiate between LSD and LHM); they therefore at least partially support the hypothesis that three-choice discriminations can be conceptualized as two separate, two-choice (D-N) discriminations (Jarbe and Swedberg 1982). The results also confirm suggestion that the stimulus effects of LSD and LHM are mediated by different mechanisms; the primary action of LSD is serotonergic (5-HT2), while that of LHM is dopaminergic (White 1986).

Animals↗

Effects of diazepam and hydromorphone in triazolam-trained humans under a novel-response drug discrimination procedure.

Seven healthy normal male and female volunteers (21-31 years) were trained to discriminate between the benzodiazepine triazolam (0.32 mg/70 kg, PO; e.g., drug A) and placebo (e.g., drug B) under a three-choice, instructed novel response drug discrimination procedure. Once the criterion for discrimination was met (i.e., > 85% correct responding on four consecutive sessions), dose-effect curves were determined for triazolam (0.1-0.56 mg/70 kg), the benzodiazepine diazepam (10-32 mg/70 kg) and the opioid agonist hydromorphone (1-6 mg/70 kg). Subjects met the criterion for discrimination within four to six sessions. Triazolam and diazepam produced dose-related increases in triazolam-appropriate responding and no novel-appropriate responding at any dose tested. In contrast, hydromorphone generally increased novel-appropriate responding in a dose-related manner with placebo-appropriate responding and some triazolam-appropriate responding at intermediate doses occurring also. Triazolam and diazepam produced qualitatively similar increases on several measures of sedative drug effects; hydromorphone increased ratings of "like novel" and sedative-like effects in subjects who discriminated hydromorphone as novel relative to those who did not. These results indicate that the novel response drug discrimination procedure enhances the specificity of the triazolam-placebo discrimination.

Adult↗

Evidence that nicotine can acutely desensitize central nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptors.

Current concepts concerning nicotine's CNS mechanism(s) of action suggest that this drug produces its effects via an interaction at nicotinic-cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) sensitive to acetylcholine. In vitro research further suggests that, following its initial agonist effect, this cholinergic drug may also induce a rapid desensitization of the nAChR similar to that of acetylcholine, resulting in termination of its pharmacological effect. Research described in this paper provides evidence of this secondary desensitization process in vivo by demonstrating nicotine's ability to induce acute tolerance in a Discriminative Stimulus (DS) paradigm. The ability of nicotine (400 micrograms/kg, SC) to elicit DS control of behavior in a two-lever operant procedure was significantly reduced via a challenge dose (800 micrograms/kg, SC) of nicotine administered 15-180 min before the training dose. Twenty-three of 52 rats demonstrated this phenomenon. The time to develop acute tolerance varied, providing additional evidence that these effects may be contingent upon individual rat variability. In addition, physostigmine was also observed to induce a similar desensitization in a random population of desensitizing rats. Lastly, there were no differences between desensitizers and non-desensitizers in relation to the ability of mecamylamine (1000 micrograms/kg, SC) to antagonize the DS, while in both populations of rats scopolamine (100 micrograms/kg, SC) failed to antagonize the DS.

Animals↗

Cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of procaine, dimethocaine and lidocaine in rats.

The discriminative stimulus effects of several local anesthetics and (+)-amphetamine were assessed in a drug discrimination based on the psychomotor stimulant cocaine. Two groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in two-lever operant chambers in a cocaine versus saline discrimination, or a cocaine versus procaine or saline discrimination, using a fixed ratio 20 schedule of food reinforcement. Cocaine, (+)-amphetamine and dimethocaine all dose-dependently substituted for the training dose of cocaine (10 mg/kg) in both procedures. While procaine and lidocaine showed partial substitution in the cocaine versus saline procedure, much less substitution occurred in the cocaine versus procaine or saline discrimination. These data demonstrate that it is possible to train rats to discriminate between cocaine and another local anesthetic procaine, resulting in an increased pharmacological specificity of cocaine discrimination. The fact that dimethocaine fully substituted for cocaine in both procedures indicates that this local anesthetic has more cocaine-like effects than others so far tested, which is consistent with results from other behavioral and neurochemical studies with this compound.

Aminobenzoates↗

Pentobarbital-like discriminative stimulus effects of direct GABA agonists in rats.

The discriminative stimulus effects of direct and indirect-acting GABAergic drugs were investigated in rats trained to discriminate 5 mg/kg pentobarbital (PB) from saline under a two-lever fixed ratio (FR) 32 schedule of food reinforcement. PB and diazepam produced dose-dependent substitution for the training dose of PB with response rate reduction only at doses above those producing full substitution. Muscimol, thiomuscimol and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [5,4-c]-pyridin-3-ol (THIP) produced intermediate levels of pentobarbital-lever responding (40-60%), accompanied by dose-dependent decreases in rates of responding following THIP and muscimol administration. The GABAA agonist progabide and its metabolite 4-([(4-chlorophenyl) (5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino)] butyric acid (SL 75102) also partially substituted for PB, producing means of 39-73% PB-lever responding. The GABAB agonist, baclofen, completely failed to substitute for PB even at doses that decreased rates of responding. These results show that the discriminative stimulus effects of indirect GABAA agonists, PB and diazepam, although similar to one another, differ from those of direct GABAA receptor agonists, which produced only partial substitution for PB. The GABAB agonist, baclofen, can be distinguished by lacking any ability to substitute for PB. These results contribute to a further understanding of the similarities and differences in the behavioral effects of different types of GABA agonists.

Animals↗

The discriminative stimulus properties of buspirone involve dopamine-2 receptor antagonist activity.

To investigate a dopaminergic component in the discriminative stimulus properties of buspirone, rats were trained to discriminate 2.5 mg/kg buspirone from saline, using a two lever, food-rewarded, fixed ratio 10 operant procedure. To test the dopamine-2 (D2) antagonist action of buspirone, a second group of rats was trained to discriminate 0.16 mg/kg apomorphine from saline. In addition to a complete generalization to 8-OH-DPAT, the D2 antagonists haloperidol, R 79598 and sulpiride showed a partial generalization to buspirone. The benzodiazepine ligands chlordiazepoxide and bretazenil did not generalize to the buspirone cue. Buspirone (2.0 mg/kg) completely blocked the apomorphine cue in the apomorphine trained rats. Haloperidol, R 79895 and sulpiride also blocked the apomorphine cue, although at doses much smaller than the doses needed to evoke buspirone responding in the buspirone trained group. 8-OH-DPAT did not antagonize apomorphine. It was concluded that the D2 action of buspirone partially contributes to its discriminative stimulus properties. Mediation of the buspirone cue by 5-HT1a receptor activation seemed predominant. Further, buspirone can act as a full D2 antagonist in drug discrimination. A model was proposed suggesting a compound discriminative stimulus complex of buspirone with a dominant 5-HT1a component that overshadows a less pronounced D2 component.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Visual effects of opiates in pigeons. III. Luminance and wavelength sensitivity.

In a psychophysical task that permitted dissociations among sensitivity, overall stimulus control, and bias, pigeons learned to discriminate among stimuli along separate wavelength and luminance dimensions. Subsequent tests followed injections of morphine (1-8 mg/kg) and morphine plus naloxone (3 mg/kg). Morphine decreased sensitivity to both dimensions, and reduced overall control by luminance. These effects were reduced or reversed by naloxone. Morphine's effects appeared more pronounced for luminance than for wavelength stimuli. There were no consistent drug effects on response bias.

Animals↗

The role of n-3 essential fatty acids in brain and behavioral development: a cross-fostering study in the mouse.

A cross-fostering design was used to examine the effects on brain and behavioral development in mice of pre- and/or postnatal dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids. Pregnant mice were fed either of two liquid diets, control (con) or experimental (exp). Each diet provided 3% of the calories in the form of n-6 fatty acids; the experimental diet was supplemented with an additional 1.5% from long chain n-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil. There were four treatment groups, with all pups fostered at birth. These groups were (prenatal diet/postnatal diet): Group 1. exp/exp; Group 2, exp/con; Group 3, con/exp; Group 4, con/con; a fifth control group (unfostered) was fed lab chow (LC) throughout the study. Animals from the exp/exp and con/con groups were weaned onto lab chow for later behavioral assessment. Prenatal n-3 supplementation resulted in a small acceleration of behavioral development. The adult animals did not differ on visual discrimination learning nor did they differ in visual acuity. During development the fatty acid composition of the brain membrane phospholipids reflected closely that of the pre- and postnatal dietary conditions. Levels of 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 increased in the n-3 supplemented groups, accompanied by a decrease in levels of 22:4n-6 and 22:5n-6; the net effect of these changes was to increase the total levels of C22 fatty acids. While these results support considerable plasticity of the fatty acid composition of the developing brain with respect to the immediate dietary availability of n-3 compounds, they do not support long term effects on learning capacity of n-3 supplementation during the developmental period.

Animals↗

Discriminative stimulus effects of cyclorphan: selective antagonism with naltrexone.

The opioid antagonist, naltrexone, was used to identify some of the receptor mechanisms responsible for the discriminative stimulus effects of cyclorphan in the pigeon. Subjects were trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg IM injections of either morphine or dextrorphan from saline injections in a two key drug discrimination procedure in which responding was maintained by food presentation. The dextrorphan-trained birds generalized to l-cyclorphan at 10 mg/kg; naltrexone did not alter the l-cyclorphan dose-response curve for this effect. In the morphine-trained group, l-cyclorphan produced only partial generalization, and naltrexone greatly increased the dose of l-cyclorphan necessary to produce this effect. These results are consistent with the conclusion that in morphine-trained pigeons the partial generalization to l-cyclorphan is mediated by opioid receptors. Moreover, limited intrinsic efficacy at mu opioid receptors may be the characteristic of l-cyclorphan that prevents full generalization in morphine-trained pigeons. d-Cyclorphan produced partial generalization in both groups, but the involvement of opioid receptor mechanisms could not be confirmed, as 1 mg/kg naltrexone did not antagonize d-cyclorphan in either group.

Animals↗

Brain ethanol concentrations and ethanol discrimination in rats: effects of dose and time.

RATIONALE: In drug discrimination procedures, the substitution pattern for ethanol of various receptor ligands is dependent upon ethanol training dose, presumably reflecting functionally different concentrations of ethanol in the brain. The discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol are also time-dependent, although very few studies have investigated the time course of ethanol discriminations. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the relationship between brain ethanol concentrations (BrEC), as measured by intracranial microdialysis of the nucleus accumbens, and the time course of ethanol discriminative effects. METHODS: Two groups of rats were trained to discriminate either 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg ethanol from water following a 30-min post-ethanol interval. Following training, the time course of the discriminative stimulus was assessed using a series of abbreviated testing trials at 20-min intervals for 5 h after the administration of various ethanol doses (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg). The rats were then fitted with microdialysis probes and the time course of BrECs were determined under conditions similar to the behavioral assessments. RESULTS: BrECs were significantly above zero at 4 min post-gavage and attained peak concentrations of 16 mmol/l, 24 mmol/l and 42 mmol/l at 9 min, 16 min and 95 min after IG administration of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg ethanol, respectively. BrECs were similar in ethanol-naive and ethanol-trained rats, indicating a lack of pharmacokinetic tolerance under these discrimination procedures. The discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol were dose- and time-dependent, with a threshold concentration of approximately 12 mmol/l achieved at 5 min after 1.0 g/kg ethanol gavage in rats trained to discriminate 1.0 g/kg ethanol. Acute tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol was evident from BrECs 2-5 h post-ethanol gavage. CONCLUSIONS: Ethanol given intragastrically results in a rapid increase in BrEC, independent of ethanol exposure history. The discriminative stimulus effects of ethanol trained at 30 min post-gavage reflect a specific range of BrEC, and depend on the training dose. These data suggest that qualitatively different stimulus effects of ethanol reflect both different ranges of BrEC, as well as within dose acute tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects.

Animals↗

Locomotor and discriminative-stimulus effects of cocaine in dopamine D5 receptor knockout mice.

RATIONALE: Dopamine D1-like antagonists block several effects of cocaine, including its locomotor-stimulant and discriminative-stimulus effects. Because these compounds generally lack selectivity among the dopamine D1 and D5 receptors, the specific roles of the subtypes have not been determined. OBJECTIVES: Dopamine D5 receptor knockout (DA D5R KO), heterozygous (HET) and wild-type (WT) mice were used to study the role of D5 dopamine receptors in the effects of cocaine. In addition, effects of the D1-like antagonist, SCH 39166 were also studied to further clarify the roles of D1 and D5 dopamine receptors in the discriminative-stimulus effects of cocaine. METHODS: DA D5R KO, HET and WT mice were treated with cocaine (3-30 mg/kg) or vehicle and their horizontal locomotor activity was assessed. The mice were also trained to discriminate IP injections of saline from cocaine (10 mg/kg) using a two-lever food-reinforcement (FR10) procedure. Doses of cocaine (1.0-10 mg/kg) were administered 5 min before 15-min test-sessions. RESULTS: Cocaine dose-dependently stimulated activity in each genotype, with the highest level of activity induced in the DA D5R WT mice. Both DA D5R KO and HET mice showed reduced levels of horizontal activity compared to WT mice. All three genotypes acquired the discrimination of 10 mg/kg cocaine; doses of 1.0-10.0 mg/kg produced dose-related increases in the number of cocaine-appropriate responses. SCH 39166, at inactive to fully active doses (0.01-0.1 mg/kg) produced predominately saline-appropriate responding. SCH 39166 produced a dose-dependent rightward shift in the cocaine dose-effect curve in all genotypes, with similar apparent affinities. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest an involvement of DA D5R in the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. In addition, the data indicate that there is little involvement of the DA D5R in the discriminative-stimulus effects of cocaine. In addition, the antagonism data suggest a role of the D1 receptor in the behavioral effects of cocaine.

Animals↗

Discriminative stimulus properties of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine and the typical antipsychotic chlorpromazine in a three-choice drug discrimination procedure in rats.

RATIONALE: The atypical antipsychotic drug (APD) clozapine elicits a robust discriminative cue that is generally selective for other atypical APDS in two-choice drug discrimination (DD) procedures. OBJECTIVES: The present study determined whether a three-choice DD procedure with the atypical APD clozapine (CLZ) versus the typical APD chlorpromazine (CPZ) versus vehicle (VEH) could provide greater selectivity between atypical and typical APDs. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate 5.0 mg/kg CLZ from 1.0 mg/kg CPZ from VEH in a three-lever DD task with an FR30 food reinforcement schedule. RESULTS: Generalization testing with CLZ produced CPZ-appropriate responding at lower doses (ED50=0.103 mg/kg) and CLZ-appropriate responding at higher doses (ED50=1.69 mg/kg). Generalization testing with the atypical APD olanzapine produced similar results. In contrast, the atypical APD risperidone and the typical APDs CPZ and haloperidol produced only CPZ-appropriate responding. The muscarinic antagonist scopolamine produced CPZ-appropriate responding at lower doses and CLZ-appropriate responding at higher doses in a manner similar to CLZ and olanzapine. The co-administration of haloperidol (0.00625 mg/kg) with scopolamine shifted the dose-response curve for CLZ-appropriate responding to the left. The 5-HT(2A/2C) antagonist ritanserin and the H1 histamine antagonist pyrilamine did not substitute for either CLZ or CPZ. The alpha1 adrenergic antagonist prazosin did not substitute for CLZ, but produced full substitution for CPZ. CONCLUSIONS: The three-choice DD procedure clearly distinguished the atypical APDs CLZ and olanzapine from the typical APDs CPZ and haloperidol; however, the stimulus properties of the atypical APD risperidone were similar to CPZ, but not to CLZ. These findings further suggest that CLZ, as well as CPZ, elicits a compound cue.

Animals↗

Complex discriminative stimulus properties of (+)lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in C57Bl/6J mice.

RATIONALE: The drug discrimination procedure is the most frequently used in vivo model of hallucinogen activity. Historically, most drug discrimination studies have been conducted in the rat. With the development of genetically modified mice, a powerful new tool has become available for investigating the mechanisms of drug-induced behavior. The current paper is part of an ongoing effort to determine the utility of the drug discrimination technique for evaluating hallucinogenic drugs in mice. OBJECTIVE: To establish the training procedures and characterize the stimulus properties of (+)lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in mice. METHODS: Using a two-lever drug discrimination procedure, C57Bl/6J mice were trained to discriminate 0.45 mg/kg LSD vs saline on a VI30 sec schedule of reinforcement, with vanilla-flavored Ensure serving as the reinforcer. RESULTS: As in rats, acquisition was orderly, but the training dose was nearly five-fold higher for mice than rats. LSD lever selection was dose-dependent. Time-course studies revealed a rapid loss of the LSD stimulus effects. The 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonist, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine [(-)DOB] (1.0 mg/kg), substituted fully for LSD and the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (1.6 mg/kg), substituted partially for LSD. Pretreatment with the 5-HT(2A) receptor-selective antagonist, MDL 100907, or the 5-HT(1A)-selective antagonist WAY 100635, showed that each antagonist only partially blocked LSD discrimination. Substitution of 1.0 mg/kg (-)DOB for LSD was fully blocked by pretreatment with MDL 100907 but unaltered by WAY 100635 pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that in mice the stimulus effects of LSD have both a 5-HT(2A) receptor and a 5-HT(1A) receptor component.

DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine↗

Involvement of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor subtypes in the discriminative-stimulus effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats.

RATIONALE: Many behavioral effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including its discriminative-stimulus effects, are modulated by endogenous opioid systems. OBJECTIVE: To investigate opioid receptor subtypes involved in the discriminative effects of THC. METHODS: Rats trained to discriminate 3 mg/kg i.p. of THC from vehicle using a two-lever operant drug-discrimination procedure, were tested with compounds that bind preferentially or selectively to either mu-, delta- or kappa-opioid receptors. RESULTS: The preferential mu-opioid receptor agonist heroin (0.3-1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), the selective delta-opioid receptor agonist SNC-80 (1-10 mg/kg, i.p.) and the selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50488 (1-10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not produce generalization to the discriminative effects of THC when given alone. However, heroin, but not SNC-80 or U50488, significantly shifted the dose-response curve for THC discrimination to the left. Also, the preferential mu-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (0.1-1 mg/kg, i.p.), the selective delta-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole (1-10 mg/kg, i.p.) and the kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (n-BNI, 5 mg/kg, s.c.), did not significantly reduce the discriminative effects of the training dose of THC. However, naltrexone, but not naltrindole or n-BNI, significantly shifted the dose-response curve for THC discrimination to the right. Finally, naltrexone, but not naltrindole or n-BNI, blocked the leftward shift in the dose-response curve for THC discrimination produced by heroin. CONCLUSIONS: mu- but not delta- or kappa-opioid receptors are involved in the discriminative effects of THC. Given the role that mu-opioid receptors play in THC's rewarding effects, the present findings suggest that discriminative-stimulus effects and rewarding effects of THC involve similar neural mechanisms.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

Discriminative stimulus properties of tianeptine.

RATIONALE: In view of the difficulties in using antidepressant agents as training drugs in drug discrimination research, it was reasoned that tianeptine, because of its short duration of action and its lack of toxicity associated with long-term administration, would be well-suited to establish a discriminative stimulus cue in rats and, hence, a valuable tool in the investigation of the neural basis of depression. OBJECTIVES: A drug discrimination procedure was used to determine whether tianeptine was associated with a specific discriminative stimulus effect, and substitution tests were conducted to determine whether this effect was mediated by serotonergic mechanisms. METHOD: Rats were trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg tianeptine from saline and were tested with fluoxetine, a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor; venlafaxine, a 5-HT/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor; 8-hydroxy-(2-di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), a selective 5-HT1A agonist; and caffeine, a nonselective antagonist of adenosine receptors. RESULTS: Tianeptine induced a specific, robust, and sustained discriminative stimulus in rats. Fluoxetine and 8-OH-DPAT partially substituted for tianeptine by producing >50% of tianeptine-appropriate lever responding. In contrast, venlafaxine and caffeine induced responding on a saline-associated lever. CONCLUSION: The discriminative stimulus effect of tianeptine is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms, but what is surprising is that this mechanism seems to be, at least partially, enhanced by serotonergic transmission.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

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