Cocaine conditioned place preference is attenuated by chronic buprenorphine treatment.
Previous research shows that buprenorphine (BUP), a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, reduces cocaine use in humans and suppresses cocaine self-administration in monkeys. The present study found that BUP reduces cocaine's ability to condition a place preference in rats. Compared to vehicle treated rats, rats treated with BUP 2 times/day for 2 weeks spent significantly less time in the cocaine conditioned place compared to their respective saline trained controls. No conditioned place preference was shown for BUP alone. These results further implicate a role for the opioid system in cocaine use and stress the importance of differentiating chronic vs. acute opioid effects.
Kosten
T A
TA
Substance Abuse Treatment Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519.
Marby
D W
DW
Nestler
E J
EJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D002047:Buprenorphine; D003042:Cocaine