The involvement of interoceptive factors in the maintenance of heroin-seeking behavior.
The role of interoceptive stimuli in conditioned heroin-seeking behavior was investigated using forty-two naive male Wistar rats. A 21-day Phase I period in which 28 animals self-injected heroin in saline solution was followed by a 5-day Phase II period in which 7 animals were allowed access to the original solution; 7 animals were allowed access to saline only; 7 animals were allowed access to distilled water; and 7 animals were allowed no access to any solution. Results showed that only the heroin and (heroin-associated) saline groups shows a significant difference in operant rate compared to animals that had been continually exposed to saline only. It was concluded that heroin-seeking behavior was maintained in the (heroin-associated) saline group as a result of physiological conditioning following repeated association of saline with heroin.
D000818:Animals; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012646:Self Administration; D013997:Time Factors
D003932:Heroin